Evening star., 1896-07-28
Mr.. CONN CHARGES LIBEL
Warrants far. Proprietor and Editor of the
Capital.
Newspaper Warfare and What Was
Mr. Brooks Released.

This afternoon Detectives Carter and
Gallaher arrested Mr.. Hobart Brooks pro-
prietor OF the National Capital. and have a
warrant for the arrest of Marshall Cush-
ing. editor OF the same paper. The war
rant charges, on the oath OF Mr.. Charles
G. Conn, proprietor Of the Washington
Times. that the defendants published In
Saturdays issue Of the Capital ali alleged
false, malicious and defamatory libel to
the great injury, scandal and disgrace Of
the said Conn.
The alleged libel il set out as part of the
wsrrant as follows:
1 was curious to know who was respons-
ible for the attitude Of the Washington
Times on the gold question. Its editorial
utterances up to a short time ago showed
q decided leaning toward the free silver
cause and the sudden change to gold anus
ed and interested me. Perhaps the fol-
lowing alleged correspondence will throw
some light on the subject. The first is a
letter which purports to be copy of one
sent by Mr. Conn to a silver leader. 1 give
1t as 1t comes to me:
WASHINGTON. d. c.. June 10, 1896.
Dear sir: In view of the fact that the
republican national convention, in its plat
form adopted in st. Louis Wednesday. has
declared for a single gold standard as the
pooio ioi Jul CuiIcHSy, dHl TIE Ctl ldAHty
that the democratic national convention,
which meets in Chicago on July 7th next.
will declare for the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 by
nations it Is the belief of the management
of the Washington Times that 1t would
greatly help the cause of silver IL free
coinage were advocated by the Times. The
classes. not only in the District OF Column
bia and its surroundings. but all over the
country. Is well known. and the advocacy
OF this. the peoples ISSUE would. am sure.
to avail yourself OF the privilege of ex-
pressing your views. editorially, in the
Times. feel sure that the terms, ETC.. could
be satisfactorily arranged.
Trusting to hear from you at once, l re-
main.
Your obedient servant.
(signe0 G. c. CONN.
To this letter answer is said to have been
WASHINGTON. d. c.. June 20, 1895
Mr. c. G. Conn. Editor Washington Times:
Dear sir: Replying to your favor of the
18TH Instant L regret that l must decline
bribes are bigger than those of the other
side. The question as to the free and I'M
limited coinage of silver is one to he de-
cided at the polls. and while we have
mate campaign expenses. we are not buy
Ing up newspapers, but are leaving that
for the other side to do
Very respectfully. etc,
This. I am informed ended the corre-
spondence. Two days later as 1 have
said. the Times came out with double
loaded black type editorials denouncing
free silver and upholding the gold stand
ard
Mr.: Brooks was found at his office. No.
1407 F street.
When he reached the Police Court this af-
ternoon Prosecuting Attorney Jeffords call
ed the case to the attention Of Judge Mil
Ter, and suggested that as Mr. Gushing had
not been arrested. the case might be con-
tinued until Thursday. He said he un-
derstood that Mr.. Gushing vas in New
York
by whom is the charge made?' inquired
the court.
Mr.. Conn Of the Times" replied the
prosecutor.
Then it's newspaper against newspaper"
remarked the court.
The question OF bond was then mentioned
and Sir. Jeffords said he had no objection
to the courts accepting Mr.. Brooks per-
sonal bonds for his appearance. This was
done and Mr.. Brooks promised to have his
co-defendant in court as early as possible