The Goodland republic., 1907-02-08
THE REPUBLIG SUED FOR LIBEL
p. PFrsENBERGER ASKS $1,000
DAMAGES.
alleges That This Paper Printed and
Circulated Malicious Scandal
Concerning Him.

The first libel suit in the history Of
Sherman county was begun in the
district cours Monday, February 4.
when n. P. Pitsenberger, a Rock Is
land conductor, fled In the clerks Of
nee his petition for damages IN the
sum OF $1,000 against J. n. Stewart
pGbiisher OF The GOodland Republic
The petition, which makes J. H
Stewart and Mary r Stewart, hus-
band and wife, Joint owners OF The
Republic, defendants, recites that on
the 18th day Of January, 1907, the
said defendants did knowingly, unlaw-
FULLY, and maIiciOusly, and with intent
TO in5ures scandalize, vilify, and de-
fame the plaintiff herein, and to pro-
woke him to wrath, expose him 70
public ridicuIes etc, composed and
published in The Goodland Republic,
& false and scandalOus libel concern
ing n p. Pitsenberger, the plaintif-'' %
But let It be here remarked, gentle
reader, that neither Of the defendants
have ever, to their knowledge, even
seen or met the plaintiff, much less
70 be moved by any malice for a man
whose whole existence has been out
side OF the personal interest and no
tee Of defendants.
copying the article that is at the bot
TOM OF the action, a summary OF which
appears in this issue Of The Republic
under the heading, "a Statement OF
the Case" And the petition OF the
plaintiff ends by demanding judgment
IN his favor and against each Of the
defendants for the sum Of $1,000, and
costs OF suit
E T. Murphy is attorney for plain
tin
Being brought into litigation on a
charge Of libel is not a pleasant mat
ter, and a thing which every news
paper publisher promptly side-steps II
he has any idea that the source OF in
formation reported for publication is
Unreliable
In this particular case, If any un-
intential injury has fallen upon the
plaintih, 1t has come through an in
nOcent statement from an officer Of the
law, and not from secret desire to in
5ure a humble Iaborer.
For eighteen years The Goodland
ReFublic has been published by
''Parson" Stewart, through the thin
years and the good years alike, and
this is the first time that this pioneer
newspaper OF GOOdland and Sherman
county has ever been called to account
IN court for its published articles. The
editor has studiously avoided the pub
fishing Of any news matter or informa-
ton that would tend to reflect in any
way upon the reputation or charac-
ter OF our citizens, and the past record
Of The Republic shows that it is op-
tomistic and benevolent and not
zhalevolent.
It Is possible that the plaintiff in
this case has been melted to attempt
70 punish the newspaper for publish
ing the alleged HbelOus article, when
he doubtless knew that all evidence
OF any malicious intent were con-
spicuously absent.
The Republic disclaims malice, and
the burden Of proof rests on the plain
tin
A STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
In the issue Of The Goodland =
= Republic Of January IS, 1907. an =
= article appeared in which the =
= statements were made that n. P. =
= Pitsenberger Of this city, en- =
= ployed in the capacity OF cOnduc- =
= tor Of trains on this division OF =
= the Rock Island railway. had sold =
= two tons OF coal from q Rock =
= Island freight car at Mattison =
= station, Colorado, to q ranchman =
= by the name OF Nelson, living =
near MattisOn; and that Con- -
= ductor Pitsenberger, when he had =
= learned that an investigation OF =
= the matter was being made by a =