The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-25
SUIT FOR ISLANDER.
Case of Strich & Zeidler VS.. Albert
Steinert on Trial.
The Plaintiffs Claim Damages nth: Sum
Of $25,000.

The s25, 600 slander suit brought some
months ago by Strich x Zeidier of New |
YORK, against Albert stein rt Of this city, |
was tried ia Judge Wilbur's court today. |
The jury heard some Interesting testi-
mony and also were given some iustruc-
tive points on the manufacture OF pianos.
Robert A. Weidman. member OF the
plaintiff firm, testified that on March 81,
1896, he went into the defendants piano
warerooms in this city and looked over
some pianos. Mr.. steinert was then not
Ia the store. and an hour or so later w.t.
ness returned with a piano tuner named
Fred Mahoney, that ne had met at the
store of Mann a. Eccels. On his second
visit he met Mr. Steinert, the defendant.
and inspected q number OF pianos, MIR.
steinert supposing him to be proposed
purchaser. After MIR. Maboney had played
two or three pianos he went to one OF
Strich & Zeidier's, the only one in the
shop, and began playing upon IL. Ac-
cording TO Mr.. Weidman, MIR. Ma honey
asked what was the matter with the
piano and then sain, otis out OF tune,
out of tune, all out of tune, and there is
something wrong" Whereupon Mr.
Steiuert remarked: SITS a cheap piano,
made by an unknown concern OF low
grade, and cheapest Workmanship. The
firm that made 1t is in financial difficult
ties and only last weak one of his notes
for $500 went 20 protest." This made wit
eatd IN
'l am sorry to see son OF your fsther
speak thus; it's all lie. Iknew your
father for years rs a reputable business.
man. 1t is such talk as this that has
brought down the piano trade to Its
present low condition." Steinert, witness
said, tnen ordered him out OF the shop
saying: "We will iniure your piano and
your firm all we con-" To which remark
witness replied he expected to receive just
such treatment.
The pianos made by the plaintiffs were,
witness said of first class quality, only the
best OF materials being used and of the
very hig hest grade of workmanship.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Miller
of counsel for defendant witness said he
understood the business OF manufsctur-
ing pianos and the materials used in their
manufacture, having obtained his infor-
nation in different parts of this country
and Germany. Strich * Zeidler had been
manufacturing pianos for about eight
wears and the numb ber of the last piano
made was 1860. Witness was then taken
over all the departments of piano manu-
featuring in the plaintiffs factory. The
| company did not manufacture its owr
KEYS or action, and did not have lum
| Der yard, witness admitted, but claimed
| all these articles were made by the bes
firms in the country. The only especial,
interesting point In this portion of th'
| tes timony was in regard TO placing o
| the name OF the manufacturer Of th
action on the same. Witness claimed tha
some of the best and poorest manufactur
ers nut the name of the maker of tn
action on it. Ho said he knew one Of til
biggest piano manufacturers to sscratc
the name of the action maker off; presse
for the name of this concern, he did no
want to reply but when he was told b
must answer said he forgot the name.
There was moro testimony about detail
of the trade and then start was made
find out how many pianos the plaintiff
had lost sale of by the alleged ISLANDER
Rathbone Gardner, counsel for the plair
| tiff declared that no special damages wei
asked, only general damages az the plair
tiff could not provo the loss OF any sales
MIR. weidmaD was then asked to deta
his first visit to the otore OF defendar
and in the questions asked him was IL
timated the defence. Witness admitte
he asked for a piano he did not recall ii
name Of but thought 1t was Strich. /
denied. however, that the statements 9
legged to be slanderous vero different fro
what he had stated and denied tn
his pinno was only described as che
one, made by firm that was compsr
o lively new one and the reference to I
: financial standing of the concern "
made in regard to question as
y the goodness of its guarantee. lie deni
that he described Mr.. Mahoney as me
ber of Clark's orchestra or said his nai
was Clark.
N. W. Littletield Is associated with
S. Miller as counsel for the defeudsr
The latter asked wiedmau II he was !
kown az ''Gghting Bob" and the reply v
In the affirmative and this was afterwf
explained by the statement that
. wiedman obtained this title when Unii
States Marshal in New Mexico.
: Victor Victorson expert piano ouild
!, Albert stsrve, piano action manufactu
= and Arthur Allen, travelling hardw
salesman and others this afternoon
- titled that the plaintiffs always bouf
the best of materials for their pianos.
= z.s- 49, n.ct.. a,