The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-11-20
Famous Mcbride Case in South
Dakota Comes to Trial.
McBRDE-LAWLER FEUD
Newspaper Plant of the Former Is Burned
by Enraged Citizens-Damages
Asked.

One of the most interesting cases
that has been on the court calendar
of this country for long time will
be tried at the term of court begin
ming tomorrow, says a Mitchell, S. D.,
dispatch to the Minneapolis Journal.
The case is that of Robert M. Nc
Bride against some forty citizens of
Mitchell, who were implicated in the
destruction of McBride's paper, the
Mitchell Mail, and his entire printing
outfit On the morning of Feb. "a,
1896, about fifty citizens marched to
the Mail to carry out an agreement
with the editor to buy the material
and paper. Mr. Mcbride did not
wait to meet the committee, but went
out a side door. The committee APP
pointed one of their number to act
as agent for Mcbride, the Office was
invoiced at little over $500, and the
amount was turned over % the agent
to be paid to Mcbride. The work of
demolition commenced and in very
short time the entire Office material
was dumped in pile in the street,
several gallons of kerosene were
poured over the heap and match
started the blaze which soon con-
sumed all there was o. the once ia
nous and wicked Mitchell Mail.
Mcbride had strong hatred for
the late John d. LAWYER alleging
that Lawler came between him and
his wife and caused their separation.
McBride's wife was rated as being
worth a million dollars. After the
separation, Mcbride not only at
tackled the personal character of Mr.
Lawler in the paper, but, growing
holder, made many severe reflections
on the First National bank, of which
Lawler was president. The paper
even invaded the sanctity of the Law
Ter home and attacked several worthy
enterprises of the city. The citi-
zens became tired of continual abuse
and tried in every possible legal way
to stop the publication of the paper,
but to no avail. Matters continued in
LIS way until about a week before
the destruction of the plant.
In the interim Mr.. Lawler went to
sioux City to arrange some business
m ftnrC for tho hunk 10 toll
en- sick during the night an in the
morning the bell boy of the hotel
found his lifeless body on the bed.
The next issue of the Mail it
was supposed Mcbride would give up
the attack on the Lawler family. But
not SO. An article appeared which
went to show that Mr.. LAWYERS bank
and his entire life We're failure.
When the issue of the Mail ap-
peared, with it's foul references to
,le dead, public Indignation was
aroused and a committee was organ
lied to take summary action. 1t
was then the act described was COM
mitted. Now Mcbride asks damage
amounting to about $25 1000. Since the
burning of his outfit he has contin-
ued to live in Mitchell for the pur-
pose of bringing his case before the
court. An action was commenced
snor..y after the incident but it was
postponed from time to time as vari-
GUS points that came up were argued
either before the circuirt court,
or the supreme court. Notice
was given a few weeks ago that
the action would be ready for hear
ing at the November term On ac-
count of the general knowledge of
the case in this county, the court
issued an order for an unusually large
panel of jurors. The case was first
started in Aurora county by the
plaintiff on the ground that he could
not secure fair trial in this county,
but as much time has elapsed it is
likely that a jury can be obtained.
Mcbride has retained as his at
torneys H. f. Fellows, of Planking-
ton and Judge Aikens of Sioux Falls.
The defendants have secured the
services of A. E. Hitchcock, of this
city and A. B. Kittreage, of Sioux
Falls. F. H. Winsor and F. NJ, Ham.
mer of this city are also associated
in the case. The defendants are
the hearty sympathy OF the people
is with them.