Evening star., 1897-01-05
Former Editor of The Times Ac-
cused of Libel.
BENCH WARRANT FOR Hts ARREST
District Commissioner TruesdeII the
Aggrieved Person.
w H AT THE CHARGE IS


dicted on a charge Of criminally libeling
District Commissioner George Truesdell
The indictment, returned late yesterday af
ternoon, was withheld from publication
until today. but a bench warrant for
Conn's arrest was Immediately issued.
The Indictment recites the fact that upon
the day the alleged libel was published
December 2, 1860 Commissioner Trues-
dell had occupied his Office for two and q
half years. and that by virtue of his in
cumbency Of the said Office, 1t was his duty
to use and exercise certain possessed pow
ers, authorities, faculties and abilities sole
ly In the public interest, as well as to rec
ommend and endeavor to procure suitable
and reasonable appropriations Of money by
Congress to be used and expended for pub
lie purposes in the District. Also. that it
was the duty of said Commissioner Trues-
dell to procure and endeavor to procure the
expenditure of said appropriations in ac-
cordance with law, and, in the exercise of
an honest discretion, in the best interests
of the public.
Then the Indictment goes on to say that
one Charles g. Conn, we'll knowing the
premises and being person of evil and
wicked mind and of most malicious dis
position, and wickedly. maliciously and un-
lawfully contriving and intending as much
as in him lay to oppress, aggrteve, vilify
and defame the said George Truesdell and
tc injure his good name, fame and reputa-
tion, and cause him to be removed from the
office aforesaid and to prevent his reap
pointment, did, of his (Conn's) great ma
tired, malice and ill-will toward the said
Truesdell. on the I'd Of December, 1893,
wickedly. maliciously and unlawfully write
and publish and cause and procure to be
written and published in a certain news
paper called the Evening Times, printed,
issued and circulated here, a certain false,
scandalous. malicious and defamatory libel
of and concerning the said George Trues-
dell, containing therein, among other
things, the false. scandalous, malicious,
defamatory and libelous words and matter
following, that Is to say:
The Alleged Libel.
"Mr. TruesdelI' (meaning thereby the
said George TruesdelD has been by far the
most unsatisfactory and the most cordially
disliked Of any of the civil Commissioners
of the District. He has worked his Office
cnd authority purely for his personal ben
eft, and has made no bones about it (mean-
ing thereby that he, the said George Trues-
dell, during his said incumbency of said
office. had shamelessly, 1agrantly, motor
iously and corruptly used the power AMI
authority, faculties and abilities SO pos
sessed by him. the said George Truesdell,
as such incumbent Of said Office, solely for
the advancement Of the personal ends and
pecuniary interests Of him, the said George
Truesdell, and to the prejudice Of the pub
lie interest. which 1t was the duty Of him,
the said George Trueedell. as the incumbent
Of the Office aforesaid. to solely regard, ad-
vance and promote). and which said cer-
tain false. scandalous, malicious and de-
famatory libel contained therein. among
other things, the other and further false,
scandalous, malicious, defamatory and
!ibelous words and matters following. that
Is to say:
trene northeast and northwest (meaning
thereby that he. the said George Truesdell,
was the owner in whole or In part Of real
estate in the District of Columbia situ-
ated and lying in. and contiguous to the
northeastern and northwestern sections of
the city of Washington, in said District)
land has sought to divert public money
to those places instead of spending 1t upon
more populous sections" (meaning thereby
that he, the said George Truesden, be-
estate aforesaid, had corruptly used the
said power and authority and the said
faculties and abilities possessed by him,
the said George Truesdell, as tie incum-
bent of the office aforesaid, in an endeavor
to procure appropriations Of money by
the Congress Of the said United States to be
expended in public improvements at and
near the real estate 80 owned by him, the
said George Truesdell, as aforesaid, in dero-
cation and to the prejudice of the public
interest which he. the said George Trues-
dell, well knew required that the endeavors
Of him, the said George Truesdell, In the
premises should have been addressed to
the obtaining Of such appropriations to be
expended elsewhere; and further meaning
thereby that he, the said George Truesdell,
because of such his ownership Of the real
estate aforesaid. had corruptly used the
said power and authority and the said
faculties and abilities possessed by him. the
said George Truesdell, as the incumbent
Of the office aforesaid, to secure improper
ly the expenditure at and near the said
real estate SO owned by him, the said
TrueSdon nf nf ha Y,pYhl Il,
money appropriated by the Congress of the
said United States for the purpose Of public
improvements in the said District, which
he the said George Truesdell knew should
have been expended elsewhere, to the end
that the real estate aforesaid, Of him, the
said George Truesdell might be especially
benefited and it's value increased thereby;
and which said certain false. scandalous,
therein, among other things the other and
further false, scandalous, malicious, de-
famatory and libelous words and matters
following. that is to say:
He (meaning thereby the said George
TruesdelD has used his office (meaning
thereby his said ONCE Of Commissioner Of
said DistrfcO wholly for his personal
gains. and he WIN not be perpetuated In 1t
(meaning thereby that the said George
Truesdell had. during his said incumbency
of said of1ce OF Commissioner of the District
Of Columbia. corruptly used the said DOW
er and authority, faculties and abilities
dell, as the incumbent Of said office, wholly
for the advancement and promotion of the
personal and pecuniary interest and profit
Of him, the said George Truesdell, as afore-
said. and in gross disregard OF and to the
prejudice Of the public interest, which It
was the duty of him, the said George
Truesdell. as the incumbent of said office.
solely to regard, advance and promote, and
that by reason Of and because of such Inn
proper use by him, the said George Trues-
dell, Of the said power and authority. fac
ulties and abilities possessed by him the
said George Truesdell. as the incumbent of
said Office. he, the said George TruesdelI
would not be reappointed to said office al
the expiration of the term for which he
pointed to hold said office) to the great
scandal, infamy and disgrace Of him. the
said George Truesdell, and against fhe
form Of the statute In such case made ana
provided and against the peace and COW
eminent of the said United States
Mr.. Conn Not Here.
It was learned this afternoon by the
marshars- Office that Mr. Conn is at present
In Indiana 1t IS understood that he win
return to the city In q few days, when he
will be called upon to give bouds to ansvsr
the indictment returned against him