The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-15
MEREDITH GAMElY
FIGHTS FOR YODER

AS Mr.. Smith ended, the hush re-
NAMED over the courtroom. Yoder
had put on an air of supreme indiffer-
ence, sat as if he were absolutely
bored, with eyes shut, his listless form
reclining back in his chair. But he
awoke in time to turn the pages of his
pamphlets and of the instructions as
his attorneys needed them. He would
turn page, and then go back to sleep,
sleep and turn page. turn a page
and sleep. But he awoke to the real
it; when his attorney, Mr.. Meredith,
began.
| Court adjourned for dinner when
| Harry Smith concluded his arraign-
ment, and Mr.. Meredith closed for the
| defense in the afternoon.
II is my duty" began Mr.. Mere
dith, ITO present the case fairly and
| without venom. If there intervene be-
tween justice and private interests the
rights OF a man, let them intervene
now. know of no such case in
which the Samut of utilization has
run to such length. All the words
OIL bitterness, of vituperation have
been hurled at him by counsel for the
prosecution. And where has there
been the need of this private co,lnse,o
would not the Commonwealth have
done It's duty? Is 1t not Commons
"eaiths case, and have you not here
an attorney representing the Common
wealth? We ask only that the law he
SIMPLY ana wisely enforced. But thew
nave attempted to move you b. every
,iiealis IN ,helr power. They have at
tempted to move you unfayorablv ~
my client.
They have other remedy ia $40 To-.
lioel. Is it simply that Manning and
Gordon should get the vindication thev
want or that the laws should he vim /,
dlcatea! | ask you not that Won adj |
minister the law as they want II h,,
as !, should be administered fair,
and lmpartially, without prejudice ~,
olas' l nope only that Mr.. Folkes
WI lo4loW the wise and just course.
Not n Private Fight.
IT is not private fight. 1t is
as important case as ever came
before the court, because Of tho effect
on the future of the state. You NAV
recoSnlze the influence it will baar
when you hear that one of the instruc-
lions shows that the press is The only
means by which the acts OF nnhIic
officers may be discussed. 1t is ths
only means by which we NAV get in
formation.
1T is the only means by which had
men IN otllce may be pointed out so
that the citizens may relieve them :
selves. They have tried to make Won |
bring in as harsh verdict as can he |
allowed under the law. But / am not |
going to ask for mild verdict. IIl
lsk simply for acquittal This is a
question OF the freedom or the press. c
Ind it is for you now to mark out a
inc Of conduct by which the news
'apers can go. For your decision will !,
Stablish Il precedent.
IF you fail of acquittal, 1t will mean
imply that men in office can do what n
hey choose, and the newspapers can
o nothing unless they take The risk
{ suit for libel. You know as we'll as I
do that there arc thousands of things i
one in this city which should not he Il
one. hut they ask you Simply to give S
warning to the press. y
IF show you he made a mistake n
can prove it was simply by the acts "
+ others. II ] show that though these
LEGGED acts might not have been corr Il
lifted but that the conduct of these II
len warranted the inference Of Mr. p
oder, then what viii You do? They u
ave argued US & the burden az nrnnr u
as upon us. But will explain 10 ,.on h
lie law in the case. You are told ~ o.
Ike into consideration other aIlc,,ed p'
bells, but have they proved an "
.hor libel, except that as to po,,on b
an Griffln?' 10 told tho iurv that IA
must consider every material fact el
I'd that 1t must presume the nrisorar
the bar innocent until he was e
oven guilty ''s IL
Hide behind Honest Man. IN
"Why," lie demanded, "didn,t ~. IL
ny that these lawyers hava ,,