Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-04-18
HARRISBURG.

On Friday last Gov. Stone signe1 the
Cooper-McClain libel BILL and also the
bills
Authorizing school boards to grant
the use of school houses for lyceum and
other literary purposes.
Establishing a separate orphans
court in Westmoreland county.
Confirming the acknowledged OF
the deeds and other instruments OF writ
ing taken before George F. BothTell
of Allegheny, notary public.
Regulating the baling of hay and
straw and making the weight of the
bale
Empowering the owners and lesses OF
real estate to kill hare or rabbit upon
their premises at all seasons of the year.
Providing for the taking of depositions
in cases pending before magistrates and
justices of the peace-and they are-now
laws of the State.
| THE LIBEL LAW.
The new libel law reads as follows:
{, Section 1. Be it enacted by the Sen
ate and House of Representatives of the
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in gen
| eral assembly met, and it is hereby en-
acted by the authority of the same, that
in all criminal prosecutions or indlct-
ments for libel no conviction shall be
allowed if the subject matter of the
| publica ton, whether contained IN news
| papers or otherwise relates to candl-
| dates for public Office or the Official con-
duct of public officers and Is found to
the satisfaction of the jury to be proper
for public information or investigation
and not to have been maliclously or
negligently made; in all such cases the
truth may be given in evidence to the
| jury.
Sec. ?. In all civil actions for libel the
plea of justification shall be accepted as
an adequate and complete defense when
il is pleaded and proved to the satisfac-
ton of the court and jury under the dl-
rection of the court as in other cases
| that the publication is substantially
true and is proper for public informa-
tion or investigation, and has not been
maliciously or negligently made.
Sec g. In all civil actions for libel no
| damages shall be recovered unless it is
established to the satisfaction OF the
| court and jury under the direction OF
| the court as in other cases that the pub
! lication has been maliciously or negh-
| gently made; but where malice ornegl1-
gence appears such punitive damages
NAV be awarded as the said court and
| Jury shall deem proper.
| Sec. T. No defendant shall be tried
| for the printing or publication OF the
same libel upon the same individual IN
| more than one county in the state, and
no defendant shall be criminally tried
nor shall any civil action for damages
be maintained for the printing or publi-
cation of the same libel upon the same
individual in more than one county in
the state. and all damages shall be re-
coverable in one suit.
Sec s. The act entitled IAN act re-
| lating to libel and its punishment ap-
| proved the first day of July, one thous-
| and, eight Numbered and ninety-seven,
and all laws or parts of laws inconsist-
ent with the provision of this act be and
the same are hereby repealed.
An Echo of the BIevins Murder.
At New Castle Monday. ExCity IS
| SCISSOR Perry Douds, one of New Castle ;
most prominent citizens, was arrested
on charge of hindering justice in con-
nectiou with the hunt for the murderer
| Of City Treasurer John Blevins 1t Is
specifically alleged that Mr.. Douds had
written certain fictitious letters for the
| purpose of misguiding the officers aud
detectives who haye been working ON
| the c.se.
Tla information was drawn by Attor-
ney G. A. Akens, who, with Malcolm
| Mcconnell. has had the investigation IN
charge for over year. 1t was taken to
| the Office of Mayor Charles Warnoca
where County Detective j. l.. Mcfaie
| attached his signature and was sworn
| to il. a warrant was at once made cut
and placed in the hands of Chief of
| Police Horner He found Mr. Douds at
the Court House He was asked to
step into the hall Chief Horner then
read the warrant. The defendant
seemed greatly surprised He betraye
agitation and some anger. Turning to
walk back into the court room. he sald ;
We'll, I'll be down after while
"The warrant says forthwith, Ar.
Douds, said Horner, ''and you must
! come with me.
At City hall Mr. Douds wa taken into
the mayors private Office, where Mr..
Akens and others were in waiting The
| mayor read the information, bonds
meanwhile standing at the railing OF the
desk. He nervously patted his foot
upon the floor and seemed greatly ex-
X cited.
| Its an outrage. he declared when
the mayor had finished. When asled
what plea he would enter he replied,
Not guilty He then waived a hear
ing and gave bail for court, George r.
Graham going his bond.
Mr.. Douds made an absolute denial
of the charges against him I know
aothing about the letters, said he u
find by consulting my diary that on the
day that the letter was found at Por-
tersville ] was working for the city ae
an assessor, and that | was working
continuously at that time My hand
writing is to be found on the books al
City hail. and | want court comnGri-
! son of it with any Letters that the
Commonwealth may have.
II was one of the closest friends OF
John Blevins and was in his Office al
about 8 o'clock on the night that be was
murdered a fact that is unfortunate
for me- perhaps, So far from wishing
to hinder or obstruct the Commonwealth
IN detecting and apprehending hi:
murderer, I will do all in my power tt
forward its efforts.
None of the men connected with the
investigation of the Blevins case vii
talk with regard to the arrest The
information contains news enough fol
one day, said one of them when ques
: toned. When asked whether or no
the arrest of Mr.. Douds was likely to b.
followed by other informations he re
piled that such would not necessaril,
follow
The County >. >. Convention
POINTS ON IHE PLACE