The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-10-12
CHARGED With LIBEL.
Editor Scott Bound Over to
District Court.
ATTACK ON SINCLAIR.
Scott Says He Can Prove
all Statements.

The sensation of the week ir
this county is the arrest of Joseph
|. Scott, editor of the Occur d.
Alene Press and chairman of the
democratic county central commit
tee, on charge of criminal libel.
The warrant of arrest was sworn
out by Bartlett Sinclair and was
served upon Mr.. Scott by Sheriff
Doust, Monday afternoon. MIR.
Scott furnished a $500 bond for
his appearance before Justice !.
K. Wilson Of Rathdrum, Tuesday
morning at o O'Clock for hearing.
On Tuesday morning Mr.. Scott,
accompanied by his counsel, Earl
Sanders, arrived in Rathdrum,
having driven across the country
from Occur d'Alene. At the con
clusion of the hearing Justice Will
son bound Mr.. Scott over to the
district court under $4,000 bonds
which the latter furnished and re-
turned home.
The grounds on which Mr.. Sim
clair basel his charge was an
editorial appearing in the Coeur
d'Alene Press in which Editor
Scott made allegations that when
treasurer of Rial province, Phil
ippine islands, Sinclair was dis
missed from the service by
Governor Taft for "alleged embez-
zlemen of public funds"
The article in which Editor
Scott made allusion to Mr.. Sin
clair's alleged Philippine record is
! an editorial wherein he criticizes
! the county commissioners for grant
ing County Attorney Whitla per-
mission to employ deputy to
assist him in the duties of his
office. The article stated that
Whitla had appointed Sinclair his
deputy in order to quiet the latter's
alleged attacks upon the republican
ticket. In an interview at Coeur
d'Alene, Monday, Mr.. Whitla is
reported to have denied that Mr..
Sinclair is his deputy.
Editor Scott when arrested gave
out an interview in which he de-
clared in part:
i "My arrest Is simply political
move on the part of republicans, and
Sinclair Is the tool bting used for that
purpose. l am chairman OF the dem-
ocratic county central committee,
and have been waging a war against
MormOnism, for economical county
! government and the abolshment of
ring rule, which has incensed Sinclair
and some Of his followers. They are
now attempting to discredit my work
for the people aud for lower taxation
by causing my arrest on the charge
of criminal libel l have no fear of
the outcome of the case. l will prove
all statements made in the Press II
the case ever comes to trial. The ar
rest is political persecution and moth
ing else"
A few others seem also to con-
slider Sinclair's action a movement
sanctioned and abetted by the re-
publican leaders for political effect.
Facts as cleaned at the county
seat, however, indicate that Editor
Scott and his adherants are in error
on this point.
Mr.. Sinclair wishes to be dis.
tinctly understood that both Mr.
Heitman, vice state chairman, and
MIR. Shoemaker, county chairman
of the republican party, opposed
suit at this time against Joseph
T. Scott. These gentlemen urged
Mr.. Sinclair before and after ths
complaint was filed to let the
matter drop till after election
fearing that a political aspec
might be given to the proceeding
, Sinclair affirms that he and hi
alone is entirely responsible fo
the complaint against Scott.