New-York tribune., 1899-02-08
MR.. ASTOR'S SUIT FOR LIBEL.
CASE SETTLED BY AN APoLoGY-sARcAsTIc
COMMENT OF THE EVENING NEWS"

CASE SETTLED BY AN NAPOLOGY-SARCASTIC
COMMENT OF THE EVENING NEWS"
London Feb I'm the Queens Bench Division
Of the High Court Of Justice to-day. before the
Lord chief Justice Of England. Baron Russell OF
KiIowcn and a special jury was heard the suit %
William Waldorf Astor against THE Daily Mall
Of this city TO recover the sum Of 1000 damages
for an alleged libel. which. II said held him
I'D 10 ridiciie and contempt" There was an i'm
posing array OF counsel both sides The case
was settled ny apology
Sir Edward Clarke. Q. C.. formerly the Solicitor
General counsel for the plaintiff said the alleged
lihel was published on October Is last. and was
headed Mr. Astor's Strange Dinner Party" II de-
clared counsel continued. that As the outcome OF
wager Of 800 81 800 with General owen Williams
Mr Astor brought the trunk Of California red
wood tree here and gave dinner party at Give
den around IT, A fictitious hst Of guests. counsel
further remarked. was published. and. indeed. the
whole details except the mere fact that Mr. Astor
brought the tree 10 England. was an effort OF I'M
acination and Mr.. Astor stated that he was there
hy held up to the public "a foolish and ridicu-
lous person"
Sir Edward Clarke also said Mr.. Astor was an
American gentleman OF great wealth who had
made this country his home had house Carl
TON House Terrace and was the owner OF the beau
tiful estate OF Cveden." and that soon after ne
settled in England certain personal and offensive
paragraphs from time to time appeared ABOUT
him"
Mr Astor then took the stand and confirmed Sir
Edward Clarkes statements He added that many
of the guests mentioned were unknown to him. and
he expressed the belief that some Of them did no'
exist The matter caused great annoyance 10 him.
but he was always willing 10 accept an apology.
Thereupon the Lord Chief Justice asked If 1t was
not possible for apology 10 he given az that
stage Of the proceedings.
The Right Hon EDWARD Henry Carson O. c. for
merly Solicitor General for Ireland. in behalf OF
Alfred Charles Harmsworth. principal proprietor OF
The Daily Mail" and other papers. said MS cheh'
was always ready and willing TO apologize
whether the matter published Is a libel or not
the Lord Chief Justice remarked 'is question for
the Jury "a decide Surely however. Il Is proper 10
apologize for giving annoyance
MY clients" said Mr.. Carson. while they DO not
admit the libel. are anxious not 10 publish any
thing which may cause annoyance
II cannot he said replied the Lord Chlet JUS
tlce that these personal paragraphs are not
sometimes annoying This is the fringe OF large
question one cannot fail 10 see that there Is
growing fashion. perhaps COPIED from the press
with which Nj Astor is better acquainted tnan we
are lauGhter) % puhlshing PERSONA pa az "''''
which are annoying.
"A naragraph appears IN 2 newspaper this morn
ing regardine myself laughter). erroneous.y stat
ine that forced my carriage through the Horse
Guards. MASSAGE Notwithstanding the opposition
96 ne a35a5 ane Re5n III AmssaP nsaen R 4R 2 career
said il had been my duty. in the position ol pts pr
dert OF the Divorce Court. 70 pronounce a divorce
decree between myself and my irst VII. VIZ - "a "a
matter OF fact have had onl5 one VI, - sT' an
alive nov: We have never heeg divorced. aiq an a."
not The president Of the Divorce court '@'"s"
Addressing Nj Carson. the chief justice re
Tor publishing parasraR Rh which M has syen Ge re
pied q adopt Your LordsAps ns4; sqEsSsIn Ws Win I'm
ma "a sav thai they had no wish 20 give annoy
ance though some people are annoyed 2X nX mes s
ttircs and others are not. Qaughter) Ihey re-
srH mai fhe gave annoyance to Mr Astor and
The Case was men settled. Juror being win
drax,n and the proceedings coming 20 an emo .
W Si~ fia~msw6rth's Evening News IN report
ing the case says Mr.. Astor Is cu-tufea amer amer
insn who does us the honor 70 prefer our com
ranv 10 that Of his own countrymen. hls re-
hicb his native new spapers deal with nm maze &
Ti,r g. ennar4ntlv a Mighty eel Serious crlllc ne
malice in the dinner pa ~ laraeTaPn Is so s1 Supn d
&C ~ asrara arv ordinary reader, bLt 1lu hos
at 10 e9qql' Aetor According TO Sir Edward
Clarke he inference drawn from the pa.agrapn
Nro,,id ne that MI Astor allowed the iniorinatlon
70 be supplied the press Ihls a"IuI VIZ - NJ NJ
would naturally appear heinous 10 any one oI MI
As+Or's nationality.