Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-14
CELEBRATED LIBEL CASE.
Miss HnncocI<'s Suit Against DIR. Black
well to De Tried Again Mt
Columbia, Mo.

Columbia, Mo-. June 15.-(SpeciaL) The
celebrated Blackwell Hancock libel case
has just been reversed by the supreme
court and remanded to the Boone county
circuit court for retriaI. Before this case
is finished it promises to be one OF the
most famous in the annals Of Central
Missouri legal lore.
The suit has been in the courts since
1882, two years of which It has been in
the supreme court. Owing to the promi-
nence of the parties and the late tragic
suicide of DR.. George D. PuringtOn. In st.
Louis, one of the principals, the case has
attracted more than local notice.
The principals in the case were all
prominently connected with the Missouri
state university. Dr. ]. T. Blackwell being
at the time the head of the modern Ian
Euage department. while the plaintin, Miss
Eta Hancock, was a student at the uni-
versity from Charlton county. She was
the belle in local and college circles and,
through her mental attainments. gained a
position as tutor in the modern language
department of the university, presided over
by DR.. Blackwell
DR.. George w. Purington was the head
of the biological department OF the states
institution and was the leading witness
for DIR. Blackwell. DR.. Purington gained
took in the trial and subsequently lost his
position, it is said, on that account.
Miss Hancock, in her petition, alleged
that DR.. Blackwell had made slanderous
and defamatory statements as to her char
acter. She asked for damages 10 the
amount of $4,000.
in the history of the Boone county bar,
lasting more than a week, with daily at
tendance of the entire university commun-
IA H.. W.naa int slareN
ages to the amount of $500. The case was
appealed TO the supreme court and, after
much delay. Judge Burgess remanded the
case for retrial on a technicality in pre-
senting the plea
DR.. Blackwell is n man of wealth. own
ing several business blocks in Columbia,
and is rated considerably over the hundred
thousand mark. Soon after the nrst tflai
his resignation was requested by the uni
versity authorities and he has been living
quietly in Columbia. About two months
ago his wife filed suit for divorce. alleging
cruelty. Quite recently DR.. Blackwell dis
posed OF his Columbia property and he VIII
go to London. England, to take charge OF
the foreign correspondence of a large mer-
camille firm, for which he veil receive a
munifcent salary. He writes fiuently in
over seventy languages and Is acknowl-
edged one of the most brilliant hnguists
of the world.
DR.. Purington ended his life in a most
tra gic manner about April /, of this year,
in ST. Louis where he lived after leaving
Columbia. He registered one night at the
Lindell hotel and asked to be called at
midnight, when he was found dead. with
Il bottle at his side containing the dregs
of prussic acid. He left notes which in
dicated he was deranged-attributed by his
acCuaintances to his unsavory connection
with the trial which lost him his position
at the state university.
Miss Hancock, the plaintiff in the case.
has since married and is living in Charlton
county. where she and her entire family
are highly respected.
Just what the outcome of this now IA
NOUS case will be is problematical.
1t may be settled out of court. but those
acquainted with the principals look for
another legal struggle.