BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-01-28
SAN JUAN, JANUARY %
Aggravating Libel.

With q blstant believing roaring blast
the Tetuan Street yellowist ia again upon
US, trying issues at law in tie public press,
and iustifyipg ito criticism of the San Juan
District Court behind the decision Of Judge
Holt in the Mott Pobl- Weinar casa yes
tsrday. MThe News has been completely
and gloriously vindicated In lis just criticism
Of the San Juan District Court, and IL
characterising its action in the Pohl Weinal
case "a sshighhanded."
II there is any word sentence or paragrspl
In Judge Hollis opinion which characterised
the abeye accusation made by the San Juar
News a. justi6able then that word, sentences
or paragraph must be printed on the osb-l
aide of the opinion. A careful perusal o
every portion Of the opinion fails to disclos,
anything, either word Of words, by whicl
Judge Holt intended to criticise the SaI
Juan District Court, or to justify the actor
of the Tetuan Street disturber. In his con
sideration Of the case Judge Holt only hai
one thought and that was whether or MOI
the order of tho United States Fedora
Court had been willfully disobeyed by the
men charged with contempt, and believing
this to be- the case the Court found it iti
bounden duty to impose punishment upor
the defendants.
This decision and action of Judge Holt
will certainly have its lasting effect, ani
will greatly tend toput stop to furthel
disregard of the mandates Of the Courts O
law, and may be . suggestion to the Insulal
judges to sot with the same rigor and regard
for tks law that Judge Holt manifested; bu
it d certainly to be regretted that solns o
The good effects Of this decision should b
Lost b The attempt Of newspaper charges
Will libel, 70 yindicste itself behind til
- 81 spiai0r 40 % su6ss gi sae 3 Z i. s:.ss !
N0Mnefe in tus Ssssges op4nun i s.s4,
one word which oharsoterizes tho San Jual
District Court or makes any accusation o
misconduct or improper procedure agains
the Judges OF that Court; on the contrar,
Judge Holt was specially careful to stat.
that he had never had any difficulty will
the Judges Of the District Court, that they
had always recognised his orders and in al
Gases where he demanded copies Of papers
they had always been ohserfully presented
to aim. The Judge did not utter one word
which conld in anyway justify the accusa
tion that the San Juan District court had
acted in . ssbighaDdedn manner.
There ID certainly good ground for punish
ing person for failing to obey the mandates
Of any Court, that 10 what the Courts ara
organised for, but there should also be some
law to punish psrsops for incorrectly report.
ing opinions Of judges or attempting to
mialead the public in regard to what .
Courts decision aas been. In England the
judges Of the higher Courts recently impos-
ed heavy 6ne upon two defendant nswspa.
per who in their daily articles respecting .
certain case made statements which misled
the jurers, biased them, and prevented
equal justice icing administered. The news
paper were confiscatsd. II certainly seems
; ply that the rswspsn should ny suits st
Law, when . proper procedure u provided
jsF, and b The moss important part Of our
fandamsntal IswI
1Asrs rs just 'Iaw punishing people Cor
fxiiirg + 7osy the oTdsEs Of the Courts Of
Law, ARD. .ssss should bs ons puuisbing
nsssPeFes for Hiiessstisg The epiniens and
dscislons Of lie Conus for ths purpose of
nislssaisg ether people, and jsssi6 Ing libel.