The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-11-26
THAT SUIT FOR LIBEL.
The RunoxS or Charges Against
Adams We're Published by Other
Papers and in Congressional Rec
ord Before The Caucasian Pub
fIshed Them
Clinton News-Dispatch.I

ord Before The Caucasian Pub
iIshed Them.
Clinton News-Dispatch.
We publish In another column an
account clipped from The Caucasian
OF the trial of Senator Marion But
Ter and his brother. Lester F. But
Ter. in Greensboro, y. c.. on Wednes-
day, November 4th. The public is
familiar with the fact, that about
two years ago there appeared In sew
era OF the State papers, including
the News and Observer. the Charlotte
Observer and other papers, a news
letter from Washington giving an
account of charges in Congress and
or public rumors OF brides or i'm
proper conduct of Judge Adams and
his court, while passing upon the
property rights of the Indians, while
the court was in session In Okla
homa.
We are informed that papers out
West about that time published these
same charges. 1t was not until af-
published by other papers, and In the
Congressional Record, that The eau
casian published them, so they
claim; but for publishing these
charges The Caucasian Publishing
Company has been sued by Judge
Adams for $4,000 for damages for
libel, and also Senator Butler and
his brother, Lester F. Butler, have
also been sued for a similar sum on
account of their connection with that
paper.
These defendants have filed an
swers to those suits and the case
Will probably be tried in the near
future on its merits. The defend
ants plead that they published the
charges after they had been given
wide publication by other papers,
| and they were published in good
faith and without malice, believing
at the time, and believing now, that
said reports were true. Before these
| cases could be tried, Judge Adams
| sues out criminal warrant for IL
bel, and sends to a lawyer in Clinton
and had a special Democratic deputy
| sworn in to serve this indictment
| and to arrest Senator Butler at his
voting precinct on the day of the
election. Senator Butler was arrest
| ed on that warrant as he was going
| to vote and the officer said his in
structions were to allow him nc
bond. But a bond was promptly pre-
| pared and rendered to this office.
Mr.. F. B. Hammond, which he &C
| cepted under the advice Of counsel.
We understand the same methods
were carried out in Raleigh in the
| arrest of Mr.. Lester F. Butler, the
| officer being directed to accept no
| bond.
This proceeding is remarkable, to
say the least. 1t is all right for
Judge Adams to pursue his remedy
in the courts and prove his innocence
| of the charges if he can, and he had
his remedy in the civil suits, but to
sue out criminal warrant and have
| Senator Butler arrested while he was
in North Carolina making speeches
| III IIC ptil ~ THAT JuuSt AudulS
| claims to be the head of as Chair
man, and on the day of election, to
have him arrested by a special Dem
ocratic officer appointed for that pur-
pose, thereby ignoring the sheriff
| deputy sheriff and the cOnstables OF
the county, with instructions not to
| accept bond but to take and carry
I l.
| favorable comment in this section by
everyone, both Democrats and Re
publicans. 1t was needless and I'M
called for, at that particular time,
and was planned and carried out in
the most Objectionable manner. We
are glad that Judge Adams has de-
cided to relinquish the Chairman
ship of the State Committee. We al
least approve of that.