The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-05
MISS SEERY WINS.
Sensational SANDER Suit Against La
fayette Cook, of SOmers, Decided
in Favor of the Plaintiff.
DAMAGES PLACED AT $500.

Verdict in the Case Exc1tes Great Deal
of Comment Among the Legal Fraternity,
and the Case May Be Appealed to a
Higher Court = Other Cases Will Prob
ably Be Governed by the Action Taken
in the Cook case.
After a long contest in the courts OF
the county Miss Lillian Seery, who
alleged that she was s1anded by num-
Der of we11-krlown men in the town of
Somers, has been completely vindicat-
ed, for the jury which had been con-
sidering the first of the cases returned
a verdict at O'Clock last evening
finding for the plaintiff and fixing the
amount of her damages at $500. The
case went to the jury early yesterday
morning, and all day the jurors spent
the time testing the evidence and
attempting to arrive at a verdict.
Several of the jurors were interviewed
this morning and from these inter
views it seems that the defendant,
LAFAYETTE Cook, Jared exceedingly
well considering the opinion OF his
guilt or innocence as held by great
ma iority of the jurors. The first
ballot taken by the jurors showed that
the. woman had won the case. Nine
votes were registered for the plaintiff
while one of the doubtful ones an
nounced that he had voted for the de-
PENDANT simply to see that the case was
properly discussed and the evidence
carefully weighed before the amount
of the damages were settled upon. One
of the Jurors said that when they
originally entered the box not few OF
the men were ready to return verdict
giving Miss Seery the entire amount
asked for in the suit.
The verdict was reached shortly be-
fore supper and the court and attorneys
were hurried1y summoned to hear the
verdict.
An application was at once made for
a new trial but the Judge overruled the
motion and rendered judgment in &C
cordance with the verdict.
Mr.. Cavanagh, one of the attorneys
for the defendant, was seen this
morning, and when asked as to his
opinion of the case and the verdict, he
said:
cit is all wrong. The woman did
not prove that the action of the. de-
PENDANT had in any way damaged her.
Her social position is as good today as
it ever was. expected a jury to give
her verdict. I do not know what
10 4o1z n 6
until I have consulted my client"
The decision of the jury will be OF
more than ordinary interest to all the
people concerned in the other suits as
| it is understood that it was agreed by
the attorneys that the disposition of
the other suits now on the calendar
would be governed largely by the action
of the jury in the suit against Mr..
Cook. If such a settlement is made,
and it seems very probable that 1t will
be. Miss Seery will receive about $4,000
in damages as result Of the SIX suits.
Miss Seery was seen shortly after
the verdict, and when asked IT she
cared to say anything about 1t she re-
piled in the negative. She stated that
she ndQ not 0ntSIeu IHS suits 4O1 IA4S
money there was in it, but simply to
vindicate her character.
Among the lawyers of the city the
verdict was expected and seems to give
general satisfaction. One of them
said this morning, "The facts of the
case are that those people out in
Somers talked too much and they have
learned a valuable, though costly
lesson"
The case has attracted a great deal of
attention in the city and county since
it was introduced in the courts year
ago. The first trial of the case result
ed in a disagreement of the jury and
the second time the case was called the
defense was allowed to amend its
answer on the payment of the costs in
the former trial.
The verdict of the jury will assess
the costs of the case upon Mr.. Cook
and as the case has been in the courts
for some time they will undoubtedly be
exceedingly large.