The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-30
Is SUED FOR LIBEL
Newt Bridgemau sues the Beacon for Tel
Thousand Dollars.

In the DlStric[ court OF SelSWlck COun-
ty, Kansas.
S. n. Bridgman, Plaintiff,
Lizzie Hagney and H. ]. Hagney, De-
PENDANTS.
PETITION.
The plaintiff complains Of the defend
| ants and alleges:
That at all Of the times herein after
mentioned, the defendants. Lizzie Hag-
ney and II. ]. Hagney, were the owners,
! publishers and managers Of the Wien
! ia Daily Beacon, a daily newspaper pub
lished in the city Of Wichita. having
general cl-cuia ton n the city OF Wich-
| ia, Throughout the county of Sedgxick
| ana in the counties and towns IN that
section Of the state where said paper is
published as aforesaid.
That this plaintiff has been for -
years a resident OF Sedgwick county,
Kansas, and now is resident Of the
ely of Wichita in sad county
That for two years prior TO the 11tn
day Of January, A. D. 1897, he was clerk
OF the district court OF Sedgwick county.
Kansas, having been elected 10 the said
Office by the voters of Sedgwick county,
Kansas.
That he is well acquainted in the city
and throughout the county Of Seig wick,
and that ne generally known as Newt
Bridgman.
That on the 18th day of July, A. D.
1897, and prior thereto, he was and has
been a candidate and applicant for TIE
appointment as postmaster of the said
| city OF W chita.
That on the 18th day of July, A. D.
! 1897 the said defendants. as managers.
publishers, proprietors and owners OF
the said Wichita Daily Beacon, news
paper printed. published and circulated
as aforesaid. did maliciously, intention
| ally and falsely publish and cause 10 De
published of and concern -ng this plain
! tiff, in the said Wichita Daily Beacon.
| the following false libelous and defama-
| tory article, towit:
| Here follows the article IN full:
| That the defendants meant 70 and did
| charge that one John A. Doran, now
! deceased, formerly county treasurer OF
I Sedgwick county, Kansas, was a de-
| fa utter; and meant and did charge this
plaintiff with participating in zone OF
the most stupendous political steals in
| the history of Southern Kansas"
| That the defendants meant TO and did
| have reference 10 the plaintiff in said
| article wherein IL says, ut leaves no
| shadow of doubt as to where the money
| went. for traces Of which expert &C
! countants are now searching the records
! Of the county treasurer's office. 1t went
| 70 line the rockets OF the worst gang of
plurderers that ever fattened from the
| proceeds of political corruption"
! That the defendants had reference to
| meant the plaintiff in the following
found in said publications: TT is the
| most scathing expose of the rottenest Of
| the Republican off1ce-holding and office
| seek ne clique that has lowered like hu-
man vultures over the official feeding
grounds OF Sedgwick county that 1t is
possible to formulate in words and
| figures"
That in said publication, the DEFEND
ants meant and referred to the plaintih
in the following, to wit: That construc-
ton is that he (meaning John A. Doran
was the ctim of the rapacity OF lot
of political Ieeches. who by flattery, in>
| tinidation pulled his leg for large sums
Of money held by him in trust for Seds>
| wick county.
That the defendants meant and refer
red to the plaintiff in the following por-
ton OF the publication aforesaid, to-wit:
.'They were politicians, who in the very
nature of things. knew that the money
| thew thus obtained did not come from
Doran's legitimate income. They knew
it was the price os dishonor and that
:heir failure to repay would drag the
name OF their benefact0r in the mire
That the defendants, n the said artl-
Gle A aforesaid. had reference 70 and
meant the plaintiff herein in that por-
ton of the publication aforesaid, which
is as follows. to-wit: Newton BriiS-
man. falling to make enough out or MS
own ion as clerk of the district court,
was helped out by Prince Bountful 10
tbe extent of over $4,000 and as the re-
mort shows. still owes the Doran estate
the neat little sum Of $3.50. He VIII
probably be able TO make this sum good
if the dear people will back him for
postmaster
That the said publication hereinbefore
set forth in full charges the plaintiff
with dishonest. corrupt, and as having
consp red to and Of having assisted in
robbing Sedgwick county of public
moneys belonging 20 it. and with the
unlawful use of the public POUNDS OF
Sedgwick county. Kansas. and with nav
ing. by flattery. intimidation and mis-
representa- ton. gotten from said Doran
large sums Of money held by him n
trust for Sedgwick county.
That all OF said charges against the
plaintiff are false. untrue and were
maliciously made by the defendants as
aforesaid.
That said defamatory matter and pub
Ncation was widely circulated and read
in the city 81 Wichita. Sedgwick county.
Kansas, and throughout the state OF
Kansas.
That sad defamatory and Ibeious
matter vas published Of ana concerning
the plaintiff maliciously and with the
intent . injure ans defan1e the plain
tiff. and n expose him % public hatred.
contempt and ohloquy. and 10 injure his
Standing as citizen and 10 injure IN
in his gooi name and reputation there
,ofore by him enjoyed and for the Pur-
pose 81 destroying and inJur!ng his IN
fluence as 4 citizen. for the purpose Of
bringing him into 6'sfavor among the
people and proven, him from being ap-
pointed postmaster. and from obtaining
any Other public office or position.
The plaintiff alleges that the charges.
statements ans matters. contained in
the said publication against him. are
false and untrue. and that by reason OF
is publication and circulation as atore-
ssf5 = has injured him in his good