The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-17

jury was secured yesterday in the
case of the state against Edward Para
dis, editor of the Midway News, and
trial began in the criminal end Of the
municipal court, on the complaint made
by State Auditor Dunn.
Tuesday evening nine jurors had been
secured, and the other three were ac-
copied before the noon recess was TAX
en- yesterday. The jury as finally Sc
lected consists of:
Cyrus B. Elliott, John 1. H. Field, Frank
Erling, James j. Farrell, James F. Finson,
George F. Enge, Perry T. Elwell, George
C. Finch ]. W. Fillebrown, H. c. Fisch-
bein, William F. Enright and Otto Erdman.
Mr.. Butler opened to the jury for
the state. He read the complaint,
which set out at length the libel of
which the defendant was accused, and
in which Mr.. Dunn was called "a
thief" a" slanderer," "a cheap pre-
tender and "a tool of the pine ring"
Mr.. Butler said that in actions Of
libel the jury were the judges of both
law and fact. The statutory definition
was given and the punishment stated
as 500 fine or three months imprison-
ment in the county jail No act of
wrong-doing on the part of Mr.. Dunn
had been shown, but the conclusion
was reached that State Auditor Dunn
was thief, a slanderer and a tool of
the pine ring"
Men in pubic station enjoyed their
reputation and good name, and when
these were assailed by a modern news
paper, a weapon of destruction was
set at work more potent than any other
agency. The press was a great power
for good, but when it left it's legitimate
field to attack by SANDER and epithet
the characters of men, then it's benefi-
cent influence ceased
The object of the law of libel was to
preserve the public peace and not to
protect the character of men, for the
tendency of people so attacked was to
right the wrong by resort to physical
force. Mr.. Butler said that Attorney
Durment was stickler for technical
tiles, demon of ingenuity, and that
he would maneuver by every artifice to
avoid responsibility for his client.
Robert c. Dunn was the first wit
ness examined He was the state au-
ditor and had resided in Minnesota
twenty three years He had been coun-
ty attorney and county clerk of Mile
Laos for number of years; and had
served several terms in the legislature
AS state auditor he was ex-officio land
commissioner and authorized to sell
and lease the state lands. He knew
Mr.. Paradis and his paper, the Mid
way News. The witness now lived at
Hamline, "a good Methodist locality"
Mr.. Dunn was asked If he knew who
the editor and proprietor of the Mid
way News was. He said he did.
Mr. Durment questioned the witness
as to his knowledge on this point.
He stated he had a letter from Mr.
Paradis, in which the latter styled-him-
self the editor and proprietor Of the
Midway News. He also knew, from
general report and from a score Of
sources.
Mr. Butler said he was astounded at
counsePs making any point as to Para
dis connection with the Midway News.
Mr.. Paradis had any number of affi-
davits on file in the court in which his
proprietorship was plainly stated.
Mr. Dunn stated that he knew that
Paradis was a member of the Mime
sofa Editorial association as represent
ing the Midway News
Mr.. Dunn's attention was called to
the libelous article in the Midway
News. He recognized the article as the