The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-28
LAWLER TESTIMONY
BRINGS LIBEL SUIT
c. P. Connolly Sues Interior
Department Lawyer.
ASKS DAMAGES OF $4,000
Magazine Writer, Styling Himself
"Muck-ralrer," Institutes Pro-
ceedings Against Assistant Attor-
ney General for Utternnces I'm Ball
Hnger-Pinchot Investigation.

In the words OF the plaintiff. the first
libel suit growing out OF the Ballinger-
Pinchot investigation was fled yesterday
by a muck-raker."
The plaintiff is c. P. Connolly. the
magazine writer. and the defendant il
Oscar LAWYER. assistant attorney general
for the Interior Department. who. as a
witness before the Congressional inves-
tigating committee, made statements
about Mr.. Connolly for which the latter
asks damages in the sum Of $4,000.
The suit was filed in the Supreme Court
of the District Of Columbia, J. Wilmer
Latimer being the attorney for Mr. Con-
nelly
The complaint recites that Mr.. LAWYER.
as a witness, falsely. wickedly. and
maliciously" llbeled Mr. Connolly. re-
ferring TO that part of Mr. LAWYERS tes-
timony where he described Mr.. Connolly
as the man named Connolly who stood
on the deck Of a steamship and trampled
down women and children in an attempt
to set TO a life-boat."
i am not sure that I got his name
right. He IS an employe OF Golfers
weekly. and he became famous for his
action when the steamship Republic
went down. He trampled over women
ana children getting TO the life-boat."
IL also set forth the fact that when
Representative James asked Mr.. Lawler.
Have you not got the wrong Connolly
who did that?" Mr. Lawler replied. L
DO not know. I understood he was the
man who was connected with Golfers
Weekly and he has been pointed out
10 me as the man who did that
l have considerable contempt FOR the
Connolly connected with Golfers Week
" anyway. and I would not put him
above anything OF that kind"
The complaint declares that the utter
ances Of Mr.. Lawler were false and
malicious. and that they were not made
/ in response 70 any questions propoanded
to him as witness and We're not peril
nent or material 10 any inquiry pend
ing before the Congressional committee
Secretary Ballinger has announced his
purpose 20 bring actions for libel against
] publications which he alleges have de-
/ famed him, and other parties 20 the IA
nous controversy have intimated that
there would be court sequels 70 the In
| vestigatiOn.
Mr.. Connolly. however, IS the first 10
| take definite steps TO that end. He was
present at the hearing yesterday and. in
/ announcing that he had brought suit
against Mr.. Lawler. made the grim com
ment that It was muck-raker who filed
I the first libel suit growing out OF the
/ investigation.
/ Mr.. Connolly submitted a statement 10
| the investigating committee IN which he
denied that he had been on the Republic
| or any other transatlantic liner. He
added: NO incident OF my career has
given the slightest foundation or the re-
hottest warrant for this unjust state
ment II is made out OF the whole cloth.
think in justice the record ought 10
/ show this much"
After this letter had been read into the
! record. Representative James announced
/ that he had a letter from James B. Con-
nelly,t stating that he was the Connolly
/ against whom the Republic charges were
made, but that they were Unfounded. and
/ had been made by a disgrunued steward.
/ who had fed 70 Canada 70 escape being
! held responsible Tor making the charges.