The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-11-05
ON CHARGE OF CRIMINAL LIBEL
Ex-Judge Adams starts New Proceed
ings i'm the Criminal Court.

County, Tuesday. where he was pro-
ceeding TO the polling place TO vote.
The charge was criminal libel on ac-
count of articles that had appeared
in The Caucasian. for which Adams
had Instituted suit In the civil court
some weeks ago. The officer said he
had instructions not to accept bond.
however Ex-senator Butler offered
bond for his appearance at Greens
boro. which the officer afterwards de-
clded that ii would be wise to accept.
After the bond was given and after
he had voted, Ex-senator Butler left
fer Greensboro and was Joined at
Coldsboro by Judge Robinson, one OF
his attorneys When they arrived In
Greensboro they demanded immedi-
ate trial, but the prosecuting attor-
neys said they wanted TO wait until
8 O'Clock, after Lester Butler arrived.
The deputy sheriff served the papers
on Lester Butler in Raleigh Wednes-
day morning, and after breakfast
they left for Greensboro. Mr.. Elmer
Long, one of the prosecuting attor-
neys, was in Raleigh Tuesday night
and wanted Lester Butler arrested
then as he was afraid he might es-
cape. The officers told him Wednes-
day morning would be time enough,
and we are informed that County
Attorney told him that there was no
danger, but that Lester Butler would
be in Raleigh the next morning or
whenever he was wanted. Several
business men offered TO go on his
bond for any amount before he left
the city for Greensboro.
When 3 o'clock arrived the court
asked IL the case was ready. The
defense stated that they were ready,
but the attorneys for the prosecu-
ton stated that they were not ready
for trial; that they were waiting for
some important information from
the Secretary of States Office which
they could not get until late that
afternoon. The prosecution claimed
lthey wanted to see who the officers
| of the Caucasian Publishing Company
were and if Marion Butler and Lester
Butler were in charge of the editorial
management of the paper. The at
torneys for the defense told them
| that for the purposes of that trial
It would be admitted that they
were, so as not to have to wait for
the papers from the Secretary of
State. The attorneys for the prose-
cution then read their bill of COM
Iplaint. The attorneys for the defense
stated that the case in the criminal
court should be dismissed as Adams
| had already instituted suit in the
Civil Court; that the defense had
filed their answer, and the suit was
now pending and, therefore, the
criminal action should be dismissed
until the suit now pending was tried.
When an article in The Caucasian
was introduced by the prosecution,
paper circulated in Guilford County.
Adams was placed on the stand and
swOre that the paper did circulate
in that county. The attorneys for
the defense wanted to cross-examine
the witness, but his attorneys object
ed but finally promised that he might
be recalled to the stand for cross
Examination which the defense
lagreed to. The attorneys for the
defense stated that the matter COM
lplained of in The Caucasian was
published in The Charlotte Observer
and other papers before it was pub
lished in The Caucasian, and he had
not seen fit to bring suit against
them for libel, and that it appeared
that this was only spite case. Thai
if he was damaged it was done before
the articles were published in The
caucasian.
When Adams again took the stand
he was asked by the attorneys foI
the defense if he himself did not con-
slider The Charlotte Observer a more
| reputable paper than The Caucasian
He answered that he did. He was
asked if he did not think the editor
of the Charlotte Observer a bette:
man than the editor of The Cauca-
sian. He stated that he did. He was
asked if he did not believe that the
Charlotte Observer had a larger cir
culation in Guilford County than The
| Caucasian. He answered that he be-
lieved it had a larger circulation in
Guilford County than The Caucasian.
Then he was asked if he did not
think that paper which he consid-
| cred more heightened, and its editor
| much better man, and its circula-
| ton much larger in the county, if
he did not think it was calculated to
| do him infinitely more harm than
The Caucasian. He did not answer
| this question, but stated that he
thought Marion Butler instigated the
PARTICLES. He was then asked if he
, believed a man whom he regarded a
much better man than Butler could
be Influenced by such a man as the
witness regarded Butler, to publish
such articles in The Charlotte OBJ
server. To this question no salts
factory answer was given by Adams.
Ex-Judge Adams was then asked
what he was worth before he went to
the Indian Territory as Judge. He
said he had some property in Gull
ford and Caswell Counties, but very
little money. That the tax books
would show how much he was worth
then. He was asked how much his
salary was as Judge in Indian Ter
ritory. He stated that it was $1,000