The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
Files Sensational Suit Against General Otis and Others
 Los Angeles Times
BASED ON LETTER WHICH
 THREATENED ID EXPOSE HER
In His Argument to the Jury In Case New on Trial Attorney Short ridge Makes an Eloquent
 Defense of the Press.

Sandiego, Cal, January 10.-While Sam uel Shortridge was closing the argument today for the defendant in the $50,000 libel suit brought by Mrs. Katherine A. Ting ley, against the Los Angeles Times, a deputy sheriff stepped into the court room and served upon Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, president of the Times Mirror company, a summons in an action for $75 900, brought by Mrs. Katherine A. Tingley, alleging that he is a party to conspiracy with his city editor, Harry A. Andrews; a Times reporter, Lancer Bart let, Mrs. H. Leavitt, who gave the inter- view upon which the pending libel suit is based and E. w. Schmidt to blackmail and extort money from the plaintiff.
 Rather interesting Letter.
 The complaint is predicated upon the following letter, which Mrs Tingley al- leges she received through the mails:
 Los Angeles, Cal, March 2e, 1901. 'Confdential. Mrs. Katherine A. Ting ley H. U. B., Point Loma.
 Dear Madame-You once, on the festi- val of laying the foundation stone of your temple, just as you were starting out, divided your boquet and gave mo some. l have these flowers pressed in re-
 
 'I now wish to inform you that all your past is in hand Qrom the time, as Kitty Wescott you lived in Newburyport, Mass, till now) readyso be ahlished to the public.
 eHow much is 1t wor h 10 9r D stop same? Let me know your views thereon at once, ere too late Very respectfully,
 "E. W. SCHMIDT, Special Agent"
 The plaintiff alleges that no money was paid and that on October 2S, 1901, the ar ticle was published upon which the libel suit now on trial Is based
 The words Special agent which fol- lows Schmitts signature are repudiated by General Otis as having any possible reference to the Times, by which he says Schmtt was never employed or connect ed in any way whatsoever. General Otis says that he does not know Schmitt.
 MT. Shortridee's Argument.
 Mir. Shortridge in his argument to the jury reviewed the history of the consti- tutional provision establishing the free dom of the press and said:
 '"The defendant stands here represent ing the modern press. The object of the plaintiff is money, money money. Vim dication? Why, did not she ask 1t of the public here? Why does she not arise and ask it now? She asks damages for name, fame and reputation. Let all the news papers in Christendom turn loose their vials of wrath, of detraction of sarcasm; ; what does the man whose life is free from blame care for the words of newspapers?
 "We might as well blot out the sun that floods this room and expect virtue to live and the world to thrive as to blot out the press"
 As to the charges that Mrs. Tingley had suffered damages he asked: "Is there any evidence that her following has fallen off; that any of the earnest but misguided women who cluster around her have been driven from her side; that any of the loyal subjects who do her bidding have deserted her? Has her crown been taken from her? Has her sceptre been shaken; has rebellion broken out In her Kingdom; has there been disloyalty among her ladies in- waiting who lift her royal robes, although they were much too sacred for human touch?"
 Can't Muzzle the Press.
 Arguing for justification for such por- tions of the Times article as were cut ting with ironical sarcasm Mr. Short ridge said:
 We deny to the newspapers the right we accord to the individual; we deny the right of the free press"
 Speaking of the mysterious power which he said Mrs. Tingley exercised over others MT. Shortridge said:
 We see full grown men proud to sur render their Individuality, willing to ap- pear as servitors in her royal retinue. Whether we call the men reeble-minded and the women earnest and sincere, the fact remains the power this woman exer- cises is extraordinary and repugnant to the spirit of Americansm. Indeed 1t goes back to the dark ages and to for eipn countries