Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-02-13
End of the Libel Suit.

I
Defendant not guilty. but he must
nav the costs" was the verdict brought
In at Clearfield. last Saturday morning,
by the jury chosen to decide whether Z.
GRAY Meek. of the Bellefonte Watch
man, was guilty of committing libel by
calling State Treasurer elect Frank G.
Harris king of crooks" and IAN un-
blushing bribe taker.'
The Jury came into court promptly at
9 o'clock and rendered the verdict. Both
Harris and Meek, and their attorneys,
were present. When the finding was
announced by tho clerk Harris grew
very red, then pale as death, and broke
ont with a forced, harsh laugh. He ex-
pected conviction, as did his attorneys.
| In some manner they were given false
tip after the jury had agreed last night,
and they wore broad. knowing smiles as
| they passed along the streets on the way
| to the Court House.
Meeks friends had a different tip and
were not in the least surprised. The
question of costs is much misunderstood
The action of the jury imposes upon the
| defendant the payment OF the COSTS
which. all told amount to SAT 62 Inc
defendant in a criminal prosecution Is
| always liable for the costs OF ms own
| witnesses. unless the jury specially rem
der verdict that the prosecutor snail
pay all costs in the case.
Immediately after the verdict was
| read in the presence of his attorneys
| Harris said the outcome was a vindlca-
ton for him, as Meek's counsel, he said,
| had acknowledged during the trial or
| the case that he had not been brlbed
Following this statement Harris said
the panel of the jurors for this term had
been drawn for the jury wheel stutfing
case, and he was the victim. This case
occurred two years ago, and the party
| indicted is on trial :,
Editor Meek was congratulated on all
sides Republicans and Democrats
grasped his hand, and told him they
were glad. On all sides, excepting, OF
course. Mr. Harris immediate friends.
the verdict is commended. Just what
course Harris will now pursue on the
court suit brought against Meek Tor
S25. 900 cannot be learned from the State
treasurer or his friends. Many think
he will allow it to die by not filing a
statement as the law provides. Others
think he is so mad he will go the limit
Within an hour after the jury came
| in ex-Judge Krebs was stricken Win
something in the nature of appendicitis
at his office. He was attended by
two physicians, who said he is very
sick man. but in no immediate danger.
A WRITER in the Saturday Evening
Post says it costs about g, 900, 900 year
or about S58. 900 week to compile and
publish some of the giant newspapers OF
New York, with morning, evening and
Sunday edition circulations of 500, 600
per day. The white paper used costs
SIS, 900 per week and ten acres OF spruce
forest must be cleared daily to produce
it. The paper bill is scarcely paid by
the sale of copies at one cent each ana
the remaining $40, ,000 of expenses must
be raised by advertisements. There are
70 tons of metal melted and used in
plate cuts in big Sunday edition and
and the papers of the Sunday edition
weigh over 200 tons and fill 30 express
cars. The same writer places the
salary of the chief employe, editorial
manager at $15. 600 or $40, 900 year and
salaries of other writers ranging down
| to $4,000 year for reporters. But
everyone knows that cub" reporter is
dead lucky to start in at s12 week.
ChicOra Institute.
A very successful local institute was
held at Chicora, Saturday. at which the
following program was enjoyed by
large attendance.
MORNING SESSION.
Devotional Exercises, Rev. G. E.
Frontz; Music, School; Consider Their
Comfort" Miss Edna Ostrander. Fair
view twp. Physiology: How much?
How?" j A. Mechling, Fairview boro.;
Reading G.. w. Campman, Evans
City: Newspaper in School," Miss Inez
johnson. Chicora; Music, School.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Music, Slumber Song, Ladies Quar-
| tett; Positive Teaching" 0 IL. Grade,
jefferson Centre; Geography. " Miss
Mary G. OBrien, Butler; Loyalty to
the Public School," J. M. Galbreath,
Esq, Butler; Recitation, Miss Aline
Sheffield; sThe Value Of an Effort,
Isaac Dyke, Renfrew School Govern
ment," A. W. Kelly. Eau Claire; Ian
guage," V. A Green. West Sunbury
Academy; Mus, solo, Mrs J A. Nc
Camey; Supplementary Work, Il. l.:
Pierce, Parker; Waste in School
Work" B. NJ Hockenberry, Harms City;
Physical Culture" Emma Hutchinson,
Chicora; Music, Ladies Quartet
EvonG Cffv