The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1903-04-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 100000
Major Abrams
Writes a Letter


AVA watched the effort to prejudice
the people of Florida against Stetson
University, until he could contain
himself no longer. On Friday the
following letter appeared in the Jack.
sonville Metropolis:
Jacksonville, Fla, April 10, 1903.
To the Editor Of the Jacksonville Metropolis,
/ must confess my surprise at the
editorials published in your paper OF
yesterday afternoon. When the pend.
ing suits against MIR. Stetson were be-
gun you published a statement from
me to the effect that my advice both
to the trustees and DR.. Forbes would
be to remain absolutely silent and not
to attempt to influence the pnblic by
any statements prior to the trial.
Without knowing the facts and upon
ex parte statements and affidavits In
a vile phamphlet circulated to inJure
DR.. Forbes, eight-tenths Of which are
nothing but hearsay and the whole of
the balance absolutely consistent
with perfect innocence, you, by your
editorial, fan the flame OF prejudice
and deprive DIR. Forbes of that fair
and impartial trial of his case which
the constitution and laws, as we'll as
common Justice entitle him to. pro-
test against this. Or. Forbes and the
trustees are acting by my advice,
and 1 am solely responsible for their
silence. If I were disposed to try this
case in the newspa pers instead of be-
fore jury l could publish state
ment which would show up this entire
persecution in it's true and proper
light, but shall not be deferred from
the course l am pursuing, neither will
my client.
FLETCHER'S LETTER ENDORSED.
1t il proper to state that the letter
published by you from MIR. Fletcher
was submitted to me and that mos'
heartily approved OF it. 1t corrected
deliberate falsehood which had been
published for one purpose only, anu
which you had copied certainly with
out making the slightest investiga-
ton of it's truth or falsity.
I have nothing to do with any feel.
ing that may exist on your part
against Mr.. Fletcher, but your COM
ments on DR.. Forbes are wholly unjust
and unfair. l am yet to learn tina,
either law, justice or morals shall re.
lieve slanderer of the duty of prov
ing his slanderous or libelous accuse
tions and impose upon the person
slandered the duty of proving mega
tive, as you demand DR.. Forbes shall
do. If this we're the case, then no
mans good character or reputation
. would be worth anything. Dr. Forbes
has appealed to the courts, and II
these charges are true, let Mr. Stet.
son file a plea of justification and
bring bis proof forward. AS the at
torney of DR.. Forbes, challenge MIR.
Stetson to justify the ISLANDERS and IL
bells that have been put in circula'
ton by his agents, employees and
others and with his fr.l knowledge
At the proper time and before the
tribunal In which these cases are
pending MIR. Stetson will be afforded
the fullest opportunity to bring the
charge made, and we will also en-.
dea vor to ascertain to what extent
the torrent of libel that has been
poured upon DR.. Forbes through news
papers in this state have been with
his knowledge and through the pro-
curement of agents; and at the proper
time I shall advise him to discover
whether or not the constitutional
guarantee of freedom Of the press can
be perverted into suchgross licentious'
ness that after DR.. Forbes had chal.
lenged his accusers to bring their
proof into court he was made the sub
ject of what appears to me a precon'
certed system of libel and villihcation
in certain newspapers In the state,
whose sole and only purpose was and
10 to attempt to forestall the verdict
of a jury and to prevent, If possible,
the getting of a fair and Impartial
Jury to try this case.
Is ANOTHER SIDE.
Iprotest most theoretically against
the editorial in your paper OF yester'
day. i know all the facts In this case.
You do not; but you certainly ought
to know that there Is another siae'
and the fact that DR.. Forbes has been
exonerated three times after three
successive Investigations OF this mat
ter should have entitled him to the
forbearance and silence OF the re-
spectacle press of the State until
from the stand at the trial the facts
on both sides are given to the public
Instead of this, you, following the
lend of base, unprincipled element.
which, in the inscrutable wisdom O
Providence, has been permitted 70
print little newspapers and to prosti-
tute a noble calling, clamor for inc