Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-14
CHARGE LIBEL.
Candidate Robert Whites Prosecution
Of His Alleged Maligner.
SENATORS APPEAR As WITNESSES
Cause of Action Based on a Letter
to Senator Gear.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN COURT

Robert E. L. White, who came near being
| made justice of the peace for the Dis
| trict. to serve in the vicinity Of Bright
wood. and Thomas ]. Staley, the real estate
| agent who is anxious to succeed late JUS
! tice of the Peace w. c. Harper, were in
| the Police Court today, to have Judge Kim
| ball pass on the character of the real es-
| tate agents letter written to Senator Gear
concerning the nomination of White, and
| also bearing on the character of the
| Brightwood silver champion. This is the
case in which White swoTe out a warrant
against Mr. Staley for alleged criminal
libel.
Assistant District Attorney Baker ap-
peared for the prosecution, while Mrs.
Belva A Lockwood appeared as counsel for
the defendant. Attorney John A. Clarke
was present to assist in the prosecution,
while Mr.. d. w. Classic assisted Mrs.
Lockwood
Deputy Clerk Harper called attention to
| the warrant in the case, and Mrs. Lock-
wood said she would enter plea of not
guilty.
The letter set forth in the warrant, and
charged to be IDelouS, reads as folio rs:
Yesterday the President sent in the
name of Robert E. l.. White for justice of
the peace Mr.. White is an uncompromis-
ing democrat of the worst kind, a gambler,
this owe. good and original Mckinley
man in the District one who has the in
dorsement of four United States senators,
three repre- sentatives ex-Congressman II.
Price, all prominent republicans of the
District. tv enty-fVe attorneys and fully
fifty business men.
Il can back up what l allege. l desire to
make these charges to the Senate and 1e-
feat his confirmation by the Senate. What
is necessary fer me to do?'
ScuutOr (:nIlinrer N WitneSs.
Senator Gallinger was the first witness
examined for the prosecution. He had seen
the letter in question, which was sent to
him by Senator Gear with an Endorsement.
The letter, he thought, was in the custody
of Mr.. Moore, clerk to the committee on
the District of Columbia.
Subsequent to the receipt of the letter in
question: lie said, he received a similar
letter. This letter seemed to him to be in
a handwriting similar to the letter sent him
by Mr.. Gear and purPorted to have been
signed by the same person whose name
was signed to the alleged libelous letter.
The letter he received he found on his 'lesk
after the nomination of Mr. White had
been withdrawn and then he destroyed it,
Did you consideT that letter privileged
communicatioEf' Mrs Lockwood inquired
of the SENATOR 20
senator's opinion Is not evidence, but l
have no objection to hearing his opinion
of it
But the opinion was not given.
Chafles Mooft, clerk to the Senate Dis
trlc' committee produced tne alleged llbel-
gus iettei anu saio IL was nandeu over 10
M. 80 - t.'ot - -, NJ - nn ilSei ;
both called to testify to Mr.. Staley's hand
writing. al
Mr.. Classic argued that there was no
e eye, OF pupiicAtson, ana .he 3udge sall
callinger Nv San,fnnr C:e,r v.s nnhIication
enough for this case, unless it was ex-
planned y. II
,oei,a,ps 81 pu .s ,ne ie.eeo.
ecuted. and not Mr.. Staley."
promising that he would not detain him
ten minutes. ...,. ,.,a
~ w Ia Pn,,os,innnSS tiis name
~ 49, Cow, - ~ Son,te no said hut
tha 500 49, ba,, y, not ac,ad NO, ~ Witness
80 liz ,' t,ea ,aSauhan, ond MA Quo business
,, ~. 10, W., N VIZ, tba Letter
,,r;.tsn - tho o3d of Jupa To senator Gear
u,as sant he was a candidate for ofhce
80 10 ,homabt HE nomination was mend.
~ W. ct hat lime
-'e -
Mrs. LOckwoOds Inquiry.
"was there an apology made to you af-
49, 49, ,o..ar u,.. u,rittepp" Mrs Look
'ei .'e ~ wa"
Wood askeu'
Il object" was heard, and Mrs. Lockwood
remarked that her co-attorney, as well as
tho nr,sacutor had Objected
,os, ,,,,o,,io,, ,,,,s ,ao;n nro
Mrs LOCKWOOD lueslioi, was AGAIN pr
pounded. ana she theil dsheu ~ me STU
Ing of the letter nad occasioFeu pfeach
OF the peace 800
The court SAID IL mace no diherehce, 30