The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-16
BROKEN THEDOOR
Dramatic Scene in Serving
Papers on w. r. Hearst.
Wife Tried in Vain to Throw
Officers Off Track.
EDITOR WAS IN HIDING
Allowed Partner to Bear Brunt
of Onslaught.
Partially DisrObed She Rushed
Screaming Into Aisle.
VERY MUCH EXCITED.
He Appeared Greatly Disturbed
by the Occurrence.
Should Have Expected That
Kind of Treatment, He Said.
VERY MUCH EXCITED.
He Appeared Greatly Disturbed
by the Occurrence.
Should Have Expected That
Kind of Treatment, He Said.

Omaha, Neb., Oct. 16.-After a dra-
matte scene on Union Pacific train No.
last night in which the door of his
stateroom was burst open by a deputy
sheriff William Randolph Hearst, the
millionaire editor. was served with pa
pers notifying him that suit for $780,
900 had been brought against him for
slander and libel by Governor Charles
N. Haskell of Oklahoma in the Douglas
county, Neb., district court. The sum-
mons was served by Deputy Sheriff
Stewart for Smyth & Smyth of Omaha.
who are Governor HaskelPs attorneys in
the damage suit. The suit was filed In
the district court at 1 o'clock last night,
after which the papers were Immediate
ly Withdrawn. 1t was known that Mr..
Hearst would pass through Omaha last
night on his way from Seattle to New
York and plans were laid accordingly.
Union Pacific train No. was due at
9:40 o'clock. but did not arrive until
11:20 o'clock. Deputy Sheriff Stewart
was on hand with orders to serve the
summons on Mr.. Hearst, but had
trying time in doing so.
A knock on the door of Mr.. Hearst's
stateroom elected the information
through the door from the editors wife
that he was not in the room, but had
gone to the depot to send a telegram.
Not to be cheated the deputy sheriff
demanded admittance in the name OF
the law, saying that If he were not ad-
mitted he would break down the door.
Then ensued dramatic scene. Mrs
Hearst on the inside screamed out that
she was alone and would admit no
man and the deputy proceeded to carry
out his threat to break In Using his
shoulders as a battering ram, he
crashed through the door and was met
by Mrs. Hearst, partially disrobed, ap-
parently on the verge of hysteria.
Nothing daunted, although Mrs.
Hearst rushed screaming through the
Not to be cheated, the deputy sheriff
Stewart started to kick in the door of
the toilet room, adjoining the state
room.
Mr.. Hearst Takes the Papers.
Then it was that Mr.. Hearst emerged
and accepted the papers which the dep
uty thrust out. Mr.. Hearst said that
the summons was entirely unexpected;
that he had not the least suspicion that
anything of the kind was to occur in
Omaha.
"Why did you refuse admittance to
the officers?" was asked.
Because myself and wife were re-
firing for the night" explained Mr..
Hearst.
Frankly I don't believe this will
ever come to a trial and the know
ledge that this suit has been filed
does not disturb me In the least.
When Governor Haskell said not very
long ago that his only reason for not
bringing action against me was his
lack of funds, 1 offered to donate the
necessary amount from my own
pocket and this offer still holds good"
Examination Of the door of the
stateroom disclosed the fact that no
great damage had been done aside
from breaking the lock.
After serving the papers on Mr..
Hearst Deputy Sheriff Stewart coolly
left the car and left the editor to his
train pulled out Mrs. Hearst Joined
her husband in the apartment, both
of them pouring over the little paper
which told the editor he was the de-
fendant in a 100000 damage suit.
Text of the Charges.
The petition in the case is as fol-
lows:
plaintiff for his cause of action
states that at all times herein men
toned defendant was now the owner
and publisher Of a certain newspaper
published daily in the city of Chicago.
Ill, and known as the Chicago
Examiner that said newspaper is
given a wide and extensive circulation
in said city and state and in the entire
United States and especially in the
states of Illinois and Nebraska
THAT at the time herein men,
toned the plaintiff was and now is
the governor of the state of okla
homa; that he was chosen Chairman
of the platform committee which
drafted the national platform for the
Democratic party in the presidential
campaign of 1908, and was later
chosen treasurer of the national
Democratic committee; and that as
such public servant and party official
he enjoyed the public confidence and
esteem of the people of his own state
and of the people throughout the
United States. That on September 10.
1908. because of his hatred malice
and i'll will against plaintiff defendant
maliciously. wantonly and wickedIy
spoke at Memphis, Tenn, and on
September 20, 1908, printed and pub
lished in his said newspaper of and
concerning the plaintiff the following
false, defamatory and libelous article
to wit:
"I have shown how the Democratic
party altered its platform to suit the
Standard Oil and made Mr.. Haskell
who was an agent of the Standard Oil
the chairman of their committee on
platform
~ have shown how the Demo-
cratic party first held out it's hand to
the standard Oil and then held out its
hat to the Standard OIL and ap-
pointed this same Haskell as its ma
tionaI treasurer to take up the collec-
Here we have a president. who