The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-08
Alleges that the Article Published
April 4 Was False and MALI
cfOus and Injurious.
FIVE Co-DEFENDANTs NAMED
MEN WHO MADE AFFIDAvITS FOR
THE CITIZENS LEAGUE.
Chairman Wynne, Of the Investigate
ing Committee, Will Call Meeting
Thursday-Eppert May Resign.

Commissioner Edwin D. Logsdon, of the
Board of Public Works, instituted suit yes
terday afternoon for $4,000 damages for
libel against Charles r. Williams. Delavan
Smith, the Indianapolis News and Hilton
U. Brown. John II. Furnas, Frederick w.
Fuehring, William H. Fuehring, Frederick
w. Noting and Conrad Rust were named
as co-defendants. The complaint was filed
in Judge McMaster's room of the Superior
Court.
The suit has been expected. 1t alleges
that an article published in the News April
1 was libelous. The complaint sets out
that the plaintiff Is member of the Board
of Public Works of Indianapolis and states
his duties and obligations, and that said
plaintiff is solemnly bound, under and by
his oath as a member of such board, to
faithfully, honestly and impartially'' dis
charge all of his duties.
He also alleges that, on or about March
80. Furnas. the two Fuehrings. Noting and
Rust made afidavits of the substance, i'm
port and meaning embodied in the article
published in the News; that each of the
five did "wrongfully and maliciously utter
and publish their said several false ma
licious and libelous statements by deliver
ing them to A. L. Mason and other persons
interested with him in what is known as
the Citizens League"
1t is alleged that Delavan Smith and
Charles r. Williams are the owners and
Brown is the general manager and that the
defendants Furnas, Fuehrings, Noting and
Rust delivered to them the aff1davits con-
h. ~los,,
acquainted with the contents of the affi-
davits, and authorized the use of the same,
and that on April l all of the defendants
named did ''wrongfully, unlawfully and
maliciously'' print and publish the charges
in the News. At this point the article in
full is set out. The complaint further says:
WHAT CHARGES MEANT
"And plaintiff alleges that in so making,
authorizing, printing, uttering and pub
fishing the false. libelous and defamatory
statements and affidavits of and concern
ing the plaintiff, or the substance, import
and meaning thereof, as hereinbefore fully
described and set forth, the said defendants
hereto, and each of them, did thereby
charge, and intend to charge and impute
that this plaintiff has been and is corrupt,
dishonest and unfairhful to the official
trust imposed upon him; that he has been
at divers times and still is endeavoring
and desirous of entering into corrupt,
vicious and fraudulent arrangements and
agreements with persons contracting and
desirous of contracting by and through the
said Board of Public Works for the work
of sprinkling the streets of Indianapolis.
whereby the said persons so contracting
should disnonestiy and fraudulentIy nav
over to this plaintiff for the plaintiffs own
use, or for the use in political campaigns
in which the plaintiff or plaintiffs friends
should have an interest. part or portion
of the moneys paid by the city under
such contracts for such work, and thereby
fraudulently and corruptly cheating the
city out of a portion of its public funds
and diverting and appropriating the same
to the personal uses and purposes of this
plaintiff; and that the plaintiff is guilty.
or has been at divers times, and still is
willing and desirous of and endeavoring To
under the cover of the public office held
by him, enter upon and become a party to
corrupt and fraudulent arrangement which.
IL consummated, would make the plaintiff
guilty of the crimes OF bribery, Conspiracy.
embezzlement OF public funds, or of each
and all OF said crimes"
Ii Is alleged that by reason of the pub-
lication of these false charges the plaintifr
has been wronged and injured in his good
name, reputation. credit and standing and
has been brought into public scandal in
fanny and disgrace in the community, in
asmuch as divers OF those neighbors and
citizens TO whom the innocence and in
tegrity OF the plaintiff in the premises were
unknown" have, on account of the false
charges. suspected and still suspect and
believe the plaintiff, to be dishonest cor
leees amounts to $4,000. and for this