Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1902-01-16
STEELE A WINNER
Rev. William Steele Awarded $500
Damages in Suit Against
Editor FAIRIES.
Judge GIaspeIl Told Jury to Find
Damages for the Plain
tiff. .
Article in the COurtendy Gazette
that Brought About the
Libel Suit.

tndt brought ABOUT inc
Libel Suit.
The jury in the case of Rev. Will
liam Steele VS. Editor FAIRIES brought
in verdict for the plaintiff in the
sum of $500, costs to be also paid by
the defendant. 1t is reported
that one of the juryman at first
wanted FAIRIES assessed $1,000, some
thought Sl,7OO would be the right
thing and others thought Rev. Steele
was entitled to about as low an
amount as could be fixed. They final
ly got together and fixed the damages
at the sum named above.
Attorney Parks, Rev. Steele's coun'
sci, stated Monday evening that Mr.
Steele told him that a verdict in any
amount would be satisfactory to him
all he wanted was to be vindicated
1t is understood that Editor FAIRIES
will not appeal the case to the su.
preme court.
There was an error in the report OF
the proceedings in yesterdays Alert
that the court instructed the jury to
bring in verdict for plaintiff and
'that damages in the amount be rem
dered." The court directed that a
verdict be given the plaintiff, but OF
course left the amount wholly to the
jury to determine.
The following is from the judge S
charge to the jury:
.'This is an action for libel wherein
the plaintiff says that the defendant
did on the 9Th dav of Sept. 1901, pub
lish in a newspaper called the Courte-
nay Gazette, the following words:
''Rev. Steele Of the Presbyterian
church is sustaining his reputation
admirably as a corrupter of public
morals. The reputation was acquired
years ago away back in a New England
state where in eighteen short months,
in which he labored for the corruption
of the people of whom he had charge,
he finally succeeded, and the result of
his labors was disastrous on the church
and congregation where peace and
harmony prevailed. He has since
wandered over this broad land and
away out on the Pacific coast in town
where he was entirely unknown to the
people he preached for twelve months
and during that time the church suf-
fered decided decline, and by almost
a unanimous vote Of the members Of
that church Mr.. Steele was again
turned out to seek new prey. His
sole purpose in life was for the cor
ruption Of the people and his desires
have intensified until at the present
time he is nothing less than Satan
personified, and goes about like a
roaring lion seeking whom he may
devour. Shortly after he came to
Courtenay he began by slandering
business men of our town. He makes
no pretense at preaching the gospel.
Since he has succeeded in creating a
disturbance in the church those who
have not come under the lash and
fought for him have been slandered
by this bloated lobster Of mental de-
formity."
In the charge to the jury the court
further said that the suit was brought
against Geo. FAIRIES and CA. Sanford,
but as there was no testimony showing
that the latter was connected with
the libellous publication, the action
was dismissed; that the publication
was admitted by the defendant but he
said he did it without malice and that
plaintiff had not sustained any dam
ages by the publications: that plaintiff
also alleged certain acts in mitigation
of damages which he claimed showed
the plaintiff tosbe a disturber of the
peace, and good morals of the COM
munity and that he. the defendant,
believed the statements in the publi-
cation to be true
After defining libel the court charg-
ed the jury that the article in question
s'waS libellous and actionable and that
the defendant is liable to the plaintiff
in this action"
In regard to the answer of the
plaintiff that he believed the state
ments to be true and as to the evidence
showing such, in mitigation, the
court says:
"He has not succeeded in producing
any evidence which would warrant
his full belief in the article
published and whether or not what
hs has produced does or does not less-