The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-22
LIBEL SUIT IS
BRING RETIRED
Former Manager Of States.
man Defendant

Interest at the court house centers III
the libel suit of Allen H. Reynolds VS..
P. c. Holland, formerly manager OF
the Evening Statesman, which is be-
ing heard in superior court today.
This is the second trial Of the cause
which, at the first hearing resulted in
a verdict for the defendant. When
taken to the supreme court it was held
that the lower court erred in the trial
and the cause was sent back for re-
trial.
The action is based on certain ar
ticles published in the Evening States
man in October 1905, and is brought
by Attorney Allen H. Reynolds against
Percy c. Holland, president of the
Statesman Publishing company and at
the time of the publication of the ar
ticleS manager Of the Statesman. MI.
Holland had had Mr.. Reynolds do some
legal work for which charges We're
made and appeared to be eXhorbltant
to Mr.. Holland. Mr.. Reynolds had
had some legal notices published IN
the Statesman and he thought the
charges by Mr.. Holland were exhorbl-
tant, and, according to the allegations
of the defendant. refused to pay.
Cause of the Trouble
AS a result of the charges made by
Mr.. Reynolds for the legal work and
hxyf no v
over the charges of Mr.. Holland FOR
publishing the legal notices, the latter
caused to be published in the Evening
Statesman certain articles regarding
both affairs. One of the articles was
headed "Pecksniff Outdone," and sar-
castle reference was made to the buSl-
ness methods Of Mr.. Reynolds. Fol
lowing the publication of the articles
Mr.. Reynolds brought an action for
libel, asking $4,000 as damages for
wounded feelings, worry, humiliation,
etc.
But short time was consumed in
securing a jury. The following men
were selected: Charles B. Richard
son, C. A. Beck. Warren Fine, c. T.
Sweetzer, Israel Eager, j. j. Cummings,
H. L. Durham. James YeenG, r. \.
Angel, J. c. Faucet. H. l.. Hines and
John Stack. w. J. Duncan. Henry
Ackerman and Tom O'Rourke were ex-
cused by the plaintiff, and Freed
Greenville. Frank Walden and L. G.
Bean by the defendant. Walter Schu
maker was excused for cause.
Plaintiff Opens.
Considerable time was taken up in a
discussion as to who should open and
close the argument, the plaintiff fin
allv winning out on this point, accept
jured feelings in order that damages,
if any, might be assessed.
Following the opening statement to
the jury by c. c. Gose for the plain
tiff. Walter Lingenfelder was called
to the witness stand to identify the
copies of the Evening Statesman OF
Oct. and 10, in which the articles
appeared. Mr. Lingenfelder was editor
of the Statesman at that time and
readily identified the papers. How
ever they We're not admitted in eV1-
dence as the defendant admitted the
publications of the articles. Mr.. Lin
genfeder was asked about the circula-
ton of the paper at that time but OBJ
lection was made by attorneys for the
defendant which were overruled by the
court However, Mr.. Lingenfelder was
unable to give any information along
these lines.
Reynolds Testifies.
Allen Reynolds, the plaintiff, testi-
fed that nothing but the serious i'll
ness of his family had ever caused
him as much worry, anger. humiliation
the articles and said that these feel
ings continued to the present time.
on cross examination he said he did
not believe his friends would take any
ers might believe them. He said he
had lived in Walla Walla about 3S
years and had been a practicing at
torney for about nine years at the time
the articles We're published He did
not testify at the former trial for he,
together with his counsel, believed they
would secure damages without his so
doing. He said the articles each and
every one of them. were positive lies.
A. ]. Gillis, H. A. Reynolds and Rob
ert Carey were called to testify as to
the effect the articles had on the mind
of the plaintiff but the court excluded
the testimony and the plaintiff rested.
Attorney Barker for the defendant
made his opening statement to the jury
and court adjourned until lis.
Defendant Heard From.
At the calling of court for the az
ternoon session the defendant P. c..
Holland, took the stand in his own
behalf.
Mr.. Holland testified that he had
lived in Walla Walla about five years.