Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
BREAKS INTO STATEROOM
Editors Presence Denied by Wife,
Who Refuses to Open Door.
HE SAYS HE WAS NOT HIDING
New Yorker Declares he Was Will
ing to Accept Papers-Service
Made on Train.

matte scene on Union Pacific train No.
= last midnight, in which the door of
his stateroom was burst open by a
deputy sheriff. William Randolph Hearst.
the millionaire editor was served with
papers notifying him that suit for $500. 600
had been brought against him for slander
and libel by Gov. Charles n. Haskell of
Oklahoma in the Douglas county, Neb.,
district court.
The summons was served by Deputy
Sheriff Stewart for Gov. Haskelrs at
torneys in the damage suit, Smyth &
Smith of Omaha.
The suit was filed in the district court
at 10 o'clock last night. The papers were
Immediately withdrawn.
1t was known that Hearst would pass
through Omaha last night on his way
from Seattle to New York. Plans we're
laid accordingly.
Sheriff Gets Hearst.
Union Pacific train No. 2 was due at
9:4O o'clock, but did not arrive until II Do.
Deputy Sheriff Stewart was on hand with
orders to serve the summons on Hearst,
but had a trying time in doing so.
A knock on the door of Hearst's state
room elected the Information through the
door from the editors wife. that he was
not in the room. but had gone to the sta
tion to send a telegram. Not to be cheat
ed, the deputy sheriff demanded admit
tance in the name of the law. saying II
he were not admitted he would break
down the door.
There ensued a dramatic scene. Mrs.
Hearst, on the inside, screamed out that
she was alone and would admit no man.
The deputy proceeded to carry out mis-
threat to break in.
Using his shoulders as batterinG ram.
~ 10 G
met by Mrs. Hearst, partially disrooed.
apparently on the verge of hySteria.
Nothing daunted, although Mrs Hearst
rushed screaming through the door out
ed to kick the door of the toilet room adj
joining the Stateroom.
Then 1t was that Hearst emerged and
accepted the papers which the deputy
thrust out He appeared less indignant
than his wife did.
Not Hiding, Says Hearst.
To a reporter Hearst said the summons
was entirely unexpected and that he had
not the least suspicion that anything Of
the kind was to occur in Omaha.
why did you refuse admittance to the
offcers?' was asked.
Because myself and wife we're retiring
for the night" explained Hearst. Il have
no objections to being served with these
papers here In Omaha or anywhere else.
Frankly. I don't believe this case will
ever come to trial. The knowledge that
this suit has been filed does not disturb
me in the least.
when Gov. Haskell said. not long ago.
that his only reason for not bringing ac-
tion against me was his lack of funds.
1 offered to donate the necessary amount
from my own pocket. This offer still
holds good"
room disclosed that no great damage had
been done aside from breaking the lock.
Basis of Libel Suit
Gov Haskell bases his claim for 5000 600
damages on a report published by the
Chicago Examiner. Hearst newspaper.
of the speech made by Hearst at Mem
phis September 49, The governors COM
p.aint recites that in that speech Hearst
libeled and DETAINED the governor by as
sertinE that 1.-The democratic party altered
It's 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. The democratic
party first held out its hand to the Stand
ard Oil and then held out its hat to the
Standard Oil. and appointed this same
Haskell as It's national treasurer to take
up the collection.
Here we have a Standard Oil tool
made chairman of the committee on plat
tion and treasurer of the democratic cam
paign fund.
"Why is Mr.. Haskell placed in these
important positions in the democratic
party? Is it. first. to make a platform
that will hold the Standard Oil, and then
to make a proposition that will hold up
the Standard Oil?"
The governor alleges that Hearst made
these statements and publications "wil-
fully. wantonly. wickedly and malicious
ly." ard knowing them to be false. thus
exposing the plaintiff to public hatred,
contempt and ridicule. and tending to
biacken. vilify and destroy his reputa-
ton.
Therefore Haskell claims actual dam
ages Of $3OOOOO and also that. "as an
example and warning to other wrong
doors and as punishment to defendant. he
should be required to pay plaintiff ex-
emplary and punitive damages in the ad-
d.tional sum of $500. G0O.'