The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-26
1T WENT TO THE JURY.
Ignatius DOnnelIy's Libel Suit
Against the Pioneer Press.


Against the Pioneer Press.
Ignatius Donnellys $4,000 libel suit
against the Pioneer Press is in the
hands of the jury. That body retired
at 2:30 p. m. yesterday and ten
hours later it was still out, having
failed to reach an agreement.
AS announced in yesterdays G b e,
Ignatius Donnelly delivered the clos
ing address to the jury. In anticipa-
ton of this event the court room was
crowded yesterday morning when court
opened. AS soon as Judge Brill had
taken his seat and indicated that cOun-
sci might proceed, Judge Flandrau
arose in behalf Of the defense and ad-
dressed the jury. From this moment
the spectators, among whom were
many lawyers, manifested the closest
interest. and evinced the keenest
amusement in the excavations and YER
bal castigations that filled the court
room for the next two hours.
Judge Flandrau, after calling attention to
MT; Donneliy's attack on Grover Cleveland
and characterizing it as utterly unwarranted
and scurrilous, maintained that Mr.. WheeIock,
of the Pioneer Press, was justified in calling
MT. Donnelly whelp and mountebank. Had
he not characterized him as such a man
should be characterized?
Il think he did, continued Judge Flandrau.
''Mr. Donnelly sits there; Mr.. Wheelock sits
there. 1 call them In evidence before YOU
The breath Of scandal has never blown against
Mr.. Wheelock. For years he has conducted
his paper and done his duty. Doing his duty
unswervingly, he has always been kind gentle
and pure as the Holy Ghost. Donnelly mas
been selfish. He has hated every one who has
stood in his path. Donnelly has been all his
life pursuing the world. In the many parties
to which Donnelly has belonged there has
never been man who asked for anything
that he did not arouse the hatred OF Donnelly.
What is the character of this man? Has he
been injured and, If so, how much? That
EDeeCh kew fa ho oh
Of the man. but We have something more"
Judge Flandrau ridiculed the assertion OF
Mr.: Donnelly that the Pioneer Press editorial
had affected his physical well-being and had
brought on eczema. He characterized the
sage as hard old politician and libeller
himself, who could not possibly be injured
Wheelock. When Mr.. Donneily objected to
the Introduction Of his own evidence, it was
because he was afraid it might see the light
Of day. Judge Flandrau closed with a scath-
ing arraignment Of Donneliy that fairly dis
counted the Pioneer Press editorial in It's
eczema-producing qualities.
Then it was Mr. Donnelly's turn. At home
In the delivery of invective, Mr.. Donnelly
set about to even up old scores. Among other
things he said:
Where was 1 found when the flag Of the
country was In peril. AS acting governor OF
the state 1 was organizing men for the de-
Tense of that Dag, and where was Wheeleck,
then? He was that most infamous thing, a
copperhead. Yet he says that he has always
been a Democrat zUnder the shadow Of
Democracy he may attempt to drive his pur-
chased knife through the heart of the peo-
pie. True to his copperhead instincts he says
Cleveland was right in turning a deaf ear to
the cries OF the Cuban people. They say that
/ Of irascible and cruel nature and
that am personal enemy to my political
opponents. That is an absolute lie. Many OF
my friends Republicans. 1 was called on
in the legislature to speak, while neither Of
these men could be elected dog catcher of
Ramsey county.
These men have not been moved TO any
sentiment Of pity for an old man suffering
from a mortal disease. but have rather
tainted me with my disabilities. There is
not a corrupt combination that does not
stand behind these men. Thirty years ef
persecution and Wheelock says that he has
no malice towards me!
When he called me dirty whelp, he had
no malice. Yet, counsel betrays himself and
| his cause. when he calls 1t only little tiff
between Wheelock and Donnelly. When
the Squire Of this knight Grant asked him
If l had been elected to congress since he
supported me. Wheelock answered with q
smile that scintilated through his side
whiskers, that 1 had not. He says that he
had no malice towards me- and says so, after
swearing before God to tell the truth. The
recording angel draws forth his dark pencil,
and recording his statemen, whites over It
the word ''Perjurer."
The jury returned a sealed verdict at
! a. m.