Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-06-20
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SUES.
He Brought Suit Against Hrs. Nation Last
Thursday for S., 900 Damages.


Thursday for 900 Damages.
County Attorney Griffin brought the
trouble between himself and Mrs. Ma
tion to focus last Thursday by bring
ing suit for Islander and asking judg-
meDt In the sum of $1,000 The petit
ton filed in the Office of the clerk of the
district court reads as follows:
That said defendant, Carrie Nation,
did on the End day of June, 1900, in
certain discourse delivered to and in the
presence and hearing of about one hun
dred and fifty good people of said county,
which said defendant had collected
about her on the postoffice corner, the
same being the corner of Main and Kan
sas Avenue East, in the city of Medicine
Lodge, Barber county, Kansas, falsely
and maliciously speak and publish of
and concerning the said plaintiff the
false, scandalous and malicious words
following, to-wit:
'sThe county attorney (meaning the
plaintiff) receives s. per month from
each of the saloons of Kiowa as compen-
sation, to keep him from prosecuting
them, and | have the names of four good
witnesses to prove it. told him (mean-
ing the plaintiff) so, up in his Office the
other day and he never denied it"
meaning thereby that the said plaintiff
had accepted bride from the saloon
keepers of Kiowa while acting as county
attorney of said county.
The said statement spoken by the de-
PENDANT as aforesaid, was made intend
ing to expose the said plaintiff to public
hatred and contempt, and deprive him
of the benefit of public confidence and
social intercourse and said statement
was and is wholly false and untrue.
That by means of said false, malicious
and defamatory statement the said
plaintiff has been greatly injured in his
good name and character, and to the
damage of the said plaintiff of $1,000.
Wherefore, the plaintiff prays for
judgment against the defendant for the
sum of 5000, together with the costs of
this action.
The answer to these allegations is
due within thirty days after date of
filing. David Nation, the defendants
husband. is now at work in drawing up
the answer.
Mrs. Nation has very little to say
concerning the suit more than that she
will make a strong defense. She does
not seem to be alarmed in the least and
rather enjoys the controversy.
The causes leading up to this suit are
well known and the incidents are still
fresh in the public mind. Mrs. Nation
has charged more than once that the
county attorney has received money
from the Kiowa saloons and the suit ID
brought for yindication. AT first the
county attorney was inclined to ignore
his accuser on an insanity dodge but
later he concluded to bring the action.
This was the consistent thing to do and
for once Mr.. Griffin is entitled to credit
for following the INDEX's advice.
The case will not come to trial before
the October term of court but when 1t
does come it will be one of the most in
teresting ever witnessed in the court
room. Both sides are working with en-
ergy and if no compromise IS effected
it will be a warm contest.
Mr.. Griffin has employed A. L. Noble
to prosecute the case. Dayid Nation
is looking after the preliminarles for
the defendant but later a prominent
prohibition attorney from abroad will
assist him. The temperance people all
over the county have been waiting to
make movement of some kind and
they seem to have now reached their
| desires. Mrs. Nation says she will
prove her statements when the time
| comes and her admirers say she will
succeed.
The INDEX is glad that the matter
has been brought to this stage. We
have advocated 1t for two weeks be-
cause we thought it the proper thing to
| do under the circumstances. The pub
lie are in the dark aud they are eager
to know the facts. Mr.. Griffin is a
young man just starting out to make
| his mark in life and 1t is very wrong
| to have such serious charge rest
ing on him if it is untrue. and if
it is untrue it is only right that the
people of Barber county should know
it. On the other side, Mrs Nation has
| been bitterly denounced and she has
| now an opportunity to prove to the PEG.
pie of Barber county that she has been
truthful in the matter. Justice to each
of them, as well as to the people of Bar.
| Der county, demands thorough inyes-
| tigation and when it is concluded let
the censure fall where it belongs. The
INDEX. in common with the vast ma
jority of tie people of Barber county, is
| disinterested as to which wins the case.
Our only desire is 10 know the truth.
Mrs. Fl. E. Noble and daughter were
! up from Alva last week visiting with
| e. B. Noble and family.
One fare for round trip to Winfield
Assembly. Tickets on sale June 20 to
July 2. Return limit July 3rd.
Mrs. w. T. Collins went to Wood.
ward last Thursday tn visit q few