The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-01
SENATOR JUMPS ON
\ NEWSPAPER
Wellington S0yS Ihe B1IINllTS An
eTIc0R LIbeled Him.
GRAND JURY PRESENTS THE PUBLISHER
The Senator Follows 1t Up With Suit for
One Hundred Thousand Dollars.
The American Accepts tho Challenge
ana Declares II VIII Meet tho Issue
as RnIscd-The Press Must he
Free ana EenrIcss--Tho Scnntos
WINS Charged with Using Public
Patronage for Poii,icaI Par.
poses
The Senator Follows 1t Up With a Suit for
One Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Baltimore, Nov. 80, 1887.

1SaillnOre, NOV. SU, 1891.
United States Senator George L. Well
ington, OF this State, to-day appeared
before the grand jury and charged that
he mad been criminally iibcied by the
;he charge that he was using patron
age 10 influence voters in the election
of n United States Senator 20 succeed
Arthur p. German. The grand jury
presented General Felix Agnus, the pub-
Usher and editor OF the American for
Indictment. Later in the day Senator
Wellington filed suit against General
Agnus personally, for one hundred thou
sand dollars damages.
The American tomorrow will say:
"As usual, The American will meet
the issue that is raised. In The long
career of the paper it has had its share
of these things. and 1t has always ac-
cepted them and fought them TO finish.
In the contest for the United States
Senatorship in the Legislature of Mary
land The absolute need ana the inesti-
mable value of n free press must be evil
dent TO the humblest person. In it the
american Will be free and fearless. It
Will continue to work for the people and
the people only, and will call attentio
10 the words or actions of Mr.. Wcllinu-
Ton or those of any one else in public
life when it deems this 10 the public
welfare. And its experience has always
been that courts and jurieS have upheld
the freedom OF the press in work of this
kind. Most OF the representative Jour
nails OF the country have criticized Mr.
Wellington severely. Quotations from
them would show how adverse is the
general Judgment of the national press
on this type of craftsmanship and how
thoroughly this type has been repudia-
red and discrcdiJed in public opinion
The American always strives Ia present
the truth and do harm to no one if it
inadvertently does injury its columns
are always open for explanation, and it
. IS prepared to make explanations and
ialncnds. 1t does not deal in scandal
and has always studi0usly declined to
discuss the private affairs of men elect
ed to Office. including. we mean to say.
those OF Mr.. Wellington himself. But
while extremely careful to avoid all con-
troversy and give no reasonable ground
for Complaint. it proposes to do its
duty to tho public, at wha cost may
be involved. II will treat all public
calling, justly and fairly but il will he
intimidated by no one"
The Americans counsel will be
Charles Bonaparte. the civil service re-
former: Colonel Charles Marshall. who
was Lee's:chieI OF staff; Edgar II. Cans
and William S. Thomas The trial
which will he pushed, and which will
probably come off just when the Lcgis
iaturc meets, is expected TO he an unu
sual!y interesting one
The article upon which Senator Well
ington's actions are based was publish
ed IN inc American on Friday. Novem-
Der 18th together with an editorial from
the Post in Washington Of the previous
Day In the latter Senator wellington
was severely criticised for his general
cohduct as Senator OF iEe United
States, and charged with Openly offer
ing 10 nurchase votes for a Senatorial
asprant through the dispansa lion of
patronage"