Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-27
SUIT FOR $4,000.
]. N. Ramsey Of Blaine VS.. c,
W. Allen of West6eld.
Former Claims lattef's Language at
Caucus Was the Means
OF His Losing Nomination for Repre-.
sentative to Legislature.

The following is from the Boston
Sunday Globe of Oct. 26:
The lawyers and politicians of Aroos-
took county find much interest in
suit lately brought by John NJ. Ramsey
of Blaine against Charles w. Allen oil
Westfield, in which Ramsey demands
$4,000 damages for SANDER alleged 10
have been uttered at Republican
caucus in westfield, by which SANDER
Ramsey cl:iims, he was defeated in his
desire to become the Republican NOM
iuee for representative to the Maine
LEGISLATURE from his class.
Mr.. Ramsey is the local trial justice
in Blaine and Mars Hill and manager
of the telephone exchange for the two
towns He has been very prominent IN
local politics for the past decade ana
has large following.
Mr.. Allen is one of the substantial
citizens Of Westfeld, by whose instru-
mentality Mr.. Ramsey says he was de-
.prived of the nomination
AS the salary Of a member of the
Maine LEGISLATURE is $3.50 year, and
resentative from the class can legally
collect from the State can amount 10
no more than 1920 for the 246 miles
between Blaine and Augusta, the dam
ages of $4,000 are presumed to be as
sessed for loss of political prestige
making the suit a political one, and
the first action of the kind ever
brought in the State.
The suit was brought by Ira G. Her.
sey, an attorney of HoultOn, at the
September term of court, and went
over until the next session. which VIII
be held in Caribou. Judge George II.
Smith and Hon. Charles Dagget.
two of the leading lawyers in Pressure
Isle. have been engaged to defend Mr..
Allen. The writ, a copy of which is
given below. is novelty among legal
documents. II the case comes to trial
every politician in Maine will feel in
duty bound to attend.
In a plea of the case: for that the
plaintiff at the time of the speaking
and publishing of the several false.
scandalous. malicious and defamatory
words hereinafter mentioned was. and
to always behaved and governed him
self as a good, true. honest and sober
man and citizen. and hath always had
n good name, character and reputa-
ton. and hath never been guilty of
being drunkard. and hath never
been drunk or intoxicated. nor, until
the speaking and publishing of the
several false. scandalOus, malicious
and rdefamatory words hereinafter
mentioned. was never believed. thought
or suspected. to be guilty of drunk
enness or intoxication, but on the con-
trary thereof. was considered and es-
teemed by the legal voters of the town
of Easton. Blaine, Mars HILL Bride
water, Westfield Plantation and +.
Plantation in said county of Aroos-
took as a sober man of good habits.
integrity and honor, and well worthy
to represent them as representative
to the list Legislature of Maine from
the district composed of the towns and
plantations last above mentioned.
And. whereas. before the speaking
and publishing of the several false.
scandalous. malicious and defamatory
words hereinafter mentioned, said
plaintiff was duly elected delegate.
to attend as such, the Republican
county convention to be held at
Pressure Isle. in said county on the
I'd day of July, 1902. and did on said
date and at said place attend said
convention as delegate as aforesaid.
and voted and acted as such
And. whereas. before the speaking
and publishing of the several false,
scandalous. malicious and defamatory
words hereinafter mentioned. said
plaintiff was 4 candidate. in said coun-
ty. for an Office of profit. to wit. a can
didate for the said Legislature from
the district composed of the towns and
plantations last above mentioned. and
majority of the delegates to the Re-
publican convention to name and
nominate said representative was in
favor of. and would have voted for
said plaintiff for said nomination and
Office
Yet the defendant. well Knowing the
same. but contriving and maliciously
intending to prejudice and injure the
plaintiff in the good opinion and es-
TEEN of the voters aforesaid. and in the
good opinion and esteem of all who had
a right to vote for the nomination and
trict, and to hurt. injure. defame and
scandalize the said plaintiff i'm his good
name. character and reputation. and to-
cause him to be looked upon as Il man
of no character or reputation and 81
drunkard and sot and to defeat said
plaintiff for said nomination and cleo
ton to said Legislature. at said West
field plantation, in said county on the
Sth day of July, 1902, in the presence
and hearing of divers good people of
this State. and in the presence and
hearing of a great number of legal
voters of said district and having n
right to vote for said representative as
aforesaid. in certain discourse which
he then and there had of and concern
ing the plaintiff. in his said office. and
as said candidate, uttered and pro-
claimed the false. scandalous. maiic-
ious and defamatory words. following,
OF and concerning the plaintiff. viz :
John Ramsey" tmeaning the plain
tim was drunk Mt the late Republic
can convention at Pressure Isle mean-
ing that the plaintiff had been intoxi-