The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-01
SENATOR'S ISLANDER SUIT
WELLINGTON WANTS 500, 900 DAMAGES
FROM THE BAL TIM0RE AMERICAN.
The Alleged Libel Was an Accusation that thu
Senator CorruplIy Used His Patronage
for Germans Successor.
for Gorman's Successor.

Baltimore, Md, Nov. 30.-U. s. Sena
tor George l.. Wellington, of this State
to-day appeared before the grand jury
and charged that he had been crimnally
lheied by The Baltimore American, il
giving color to the charges that he was
using patronage to influence votes in tn,
election Of United States Senator to
succeed Arthur Il. German.
The grand jury presented General
Felix Agnus, the publisher and editor OF
the American, for Indictment. Later
in the day Senator Wellington filed suit
against General Agnus personally, for
one hundred thousand dollars damages
The American tomorrow will say:
'As usual The American, will meet
the issue that is raised In the long
career Of the paper it has had it's share
of these things and ii has always ac-
cepted them and fought them to a finish
In the contest for the United States
Senatorship in the legislature of Mary
land the absolute need and the inestima-
BILE value of a free press must be evident
to the humblest person. In it The AM
erican, will be free and fearless. 1t viii
cont.nu TO work for the people and the
people only and will call attention to the
words or actions of Mr.. Wellington or
those OF any one else in public life when
il deems this to the public welfare. And
its experience has always been that
courts and iurics have upheld the free
dom of the press in worh VI this kind.
Most of the representative journals of
the country have criticised Mr.. yelling
ton severely. Quotations from them
would show how adverse is the general
Judgment of the National press on his
type of craftsmanship and how thorough
ly this type has been repudiated and
d;scredited in public opinion. The Am
erican, always strives TO present the
truth and do harm to no one; if it in
advertently does any injury, its columns
are always open for explanation and il
is prepared TO make explanations and
amends. 1t does not deal in scandal and
has always studiously declined to dis
euss the private affairs of men elected
to Office, including, we may say, those
of Mr.. Wellington himself. But while
extremely careful TO avoid all controver-
sy and give no reasonable ground for
complaint, it proposes to do lis duty TO
the public, at whatever cost may he in
volved. 1t viii treat all public men, in
deed all men of every class and calling,
justly and fairly, but it viii be intimi-
dated by no one"
The Americans counsel win be Chas.
7. Bonaparte, the civil service reformer:
Col. Charles Marshal. who was Lees
chief of staff; Edgar II. Cans, and VIM.
s. Thomas. The trial which win be
pushed and which will probably come
off just when the legislature meets. is
expected to be an unusually interesting
ore.
The article upon which Senator We'll
Engton's actions are based was publish.
"a ia the American on Friday. Novem-
Der Is. together with an editorial from
The Post in Washington OF the previous
day. In the Latter Senator Wellington
was severely criticised for his general
conduct as a Senator Of the United
State, and charged with Openly Offer
Ing TO purchase votes for a Senatorial
aspirant through the dispensation of
patronage .'
Senator Wellington recently espoused
the cause Of Governor Lloyd Lowndes
who IS seeking election to the seat in the
United States Senate now occupied by
Senator German, whose successor will
be chosen BIZ the legislature which
meets on January ;, 1893 at Annapolis.