The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-01-04
ALLAH GA ZUNDAH /!
Leo Jacobson Wants Modest
Sum Of Ten Thousand Dol
lars Damages From
Palatka News.
Says He's Been LibeIed to That Ex-
tent by This Publication.

William A. Russell and M. M
Vickers, publishers of the Palatkt
News, were each presented on New
Years day with a summons ad re-
spondendum, to appear at the mex
term of the Putnam Circuit Court tC
answer in an action for libel institut
ed by Leo jacobson, a Jewish mer
chant of this city, who claims dam.
ages in the sum of $4,000.
1t is presumed that the action is
taken as a result of the publication OF
the following, which appeared in this
paper on July 9th last, the same be.
ing occasioned by this paper taking
cognizance of certain sensational
articles which were at that time ap-
pearing in New York and other
papers of the north concerning the
alleged peonage cases which were
then being instituted against F. j,
O'Hara, of Buffalo Bluff, in this
county.
The News at that time severely
criticised the character of the govern
ment's witnesses-the men against
whom it was alleged the crime of
peonage had been committed:
In this alleged libelOus article of
the News appeared this language:
with but one or two exceptions
the people of Palatka are indignant
to a degree never before seen over
the absolute untruth of these cruelty
charges. The exceptions are those
of men who are of the same race as
the immigrants making the charges,
and who have allowed themselves to
become blinded by prejudice.
To what extent they 1.-THE complain
ing witnesses have been aided in
the construction of these tales is only
vague conjecture.
"In short article on affairs at the
camp in question, the New York
Herald of last Monday says: Leo
nard Jacobson, merchant of Palat-
ka, Fla, says employees in the camp
ARE FORCED to buy supplies at.
the company store and frequently
their bills exceed their wages. They
are compelled to work off their in
debtedness.'
1.-THE Leonard Jacobson mentioned
is Leo Jacobson. The News regrets
that he should have made such a
careless statement. There isn't a
lumber or turpentine firm in Putnam
county that FORCES its men to buy
supplies at company stores. But it
is probably true in these camps that
laborers bills frequently exceed their
wages. That is true not only of some
wage workers, but of professional
and business men in Palatka and
every other part of the country. Mr..
Jacobson could have learned the
truth by investigation, something he
should have done before delivering
of this slap at one of the
leading business interests of Putnam
county"
The above item is the only time
Mr.. Jacobson's name has been men
toned in this publication.
Last week we announced the
verdict of acquittal ac-
corded Mr. O'Hara by jury in the
United States Court at Jacksonville
Oh the Monday before. In again
the character of the wit
nesses for the prosecution the News
had this to say:
1.-The LATEST and lOusiest of the
COMPLAINING witnesses told his story
to II New York reporter for a sensa-
tional paper, and once the story was
be it to the everlasting
shame of PalatlIa, there was at least
one man in this town who, knowing
nothing of the affair, did his utmost
to vouch for its truth and from no
other motive than that the complain !
ing cattle were reprobate members
of his own race"
1t is Just possible that Leo Jacob
son has appropriated to himself all
that attaches to the above item, and
that he claims to be the lone man in
this town who, knowing nothing of
the affair, did his utmost to vouch
for the truth [of the charges and
from no other motive than that the
complaining cattle were reprobate
of his own race"
He can do as he pleases, and prob
ably knows as well as any one
whether or not the coat fits.
But the News does say this, and
at the proper time will prove, that
Leo Jacobson DID REPEATEDLY
AND PUBLICLY CHARGE THAT
F. j. O'HARA WAS GUILTY OF
BOTH PEONA AGE AND EN-
rREME CRUELTY, statements
that are common property on the
streets of Palatka.
If Leo Jacobson has been damaged
he has no one to blame but his own
)verzealous tongue, a member which
spat venom and righteous indigna-
tion at Mr.. O'Hara whenever oppor-
5unity otfered-up to the time when
the News rendered its called for ad-
and protest.