The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-08
Milligan, Wilkin s Co.,
1888, Il4O and ll41 Market St.
ASTOR'S SUIT
Against London Mail Amicably Set
tied - The Judges Facetious Re-


tied = The Judges Facetious Re-
marks.
LONDON. Feb. I'm the queens
bench division Of the high court OF JUS
tlce to-day before the Lord Chief Justice
of England, Baron Russell. of Killowen,
and a special jury, was heard the suit
OF William Waldorf Aston against the
Daily Mall OF this city. to recover e1,OOO
damage for libel which held him up
to rldicule and contempt"
There was an imposing array of coun-
sci OF both sides.
Sir Edward Clarke, g. c., counsel for
the plaintiff, said the libel was PUBLISH
ed on October IS last and was headed
Mr.. Astor's strange dinner party" 1t
declared. counsel continued, that as the
outcome OF Il wager of $500, with Gen.
Owen Williams, Mr.. Astor brought the
trunk of California redwood tree here
and gave dinner party at Cliveden
around 1t. 4 fictitious list OF guests,
counsel said, was published and in
deed, the whole details, except the mere
fact that Mr.. Astor brought the tree to
England was an effort OF Imagination.
and Mr.. Astor claimed he was thereby
held up to the public as "a foolish and
ridiculous person."
Mr.. Astor then took the stand and
confirmed Sir Edward Ciarke's state
ments. He added that many of the
guests mentioned were unknown to
him ard he expressed the belief that
some OF them did not exist. The matter
caused him great annoyance, but he was
always willing to accept an apology.
Thereupon the Lord Chief Justice ask
ed II it was not possible for an apology
to be given at that stage. OF the pro-
ceed!ngs.
The Ri. Hon. Edward Henry Carson,
Q. c., formerly solicitor general for Ire
land.ln behalf Of Alfred Charles Harms
worth, principal proprietor of the Daily
Mail and other papers. said his client
was always ready and willing to apollo
gize
Whether the matter published is a
libel or not" the Lord Chief Justice re-
marked. sis question for the jury to
decide, but surely 1t is proper to apollo
Gze for giving annoyance"
MY clients" said Mr.. Carson, while
they do not admit the libel. are anxious
not to publish anything which may
cause annoyance"
1T cannot be said" replied the lord
chief justice. that these personal para
graphs are not some times very annoy
Ing. This is the fringe OF very large
question. One cannot fail TO see that
there is growing fashion, perhaps
copied from the press with which Mr..
Aston is better acquainted than we are
(tp nrhtnrl .nf h In y1n, vol n
graphs which are very annoying.
"a paragraph appears in a newspaper
this morning regarding myself GauSh-
tcr), enormously stating that1I forced
my carriage through the Horse Guards
passage. notwithstanding the opposition
OF the guards, and an American paper,
the other day. described a painful Incl
dent in my career. 1t said 1t had been
my duty in the position Of president Of
the divorce court, to pronounce n d.
vorce decree between myself and my
first wife. AS matter of fact. ! have
only had one wife. She is alive now; we
have never been divorced and am not
president of the divorce court"
Uaughter.)
Addressing Mr.. Carson, the chief JUS
tice said: Il think your client ought to
apologize FOR publishing the paragraph
which has given annoyance to Mr.. As
tor"
To this Mr.. Carson replied: II adopt
your iordshp's suggestion absolutely
The proprietors OF the Daily Mail wish
me to say that they had no wish 10 give
annoyance, though some people are an
noyed by these things and others are
not. Uaughter.) They regret they
gave annoyance TO Mr.. Astor and apollo
Size for so doing"
The case was then settled. Juror be-
ing withdrawn and the proceedings
coming to an end.