The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-02-17
BINDERS GETS
A BIG VERDICT
nlehnsnd Politician Not Proven TO BE
Corrupt - His Defamer Scored
By Attorney Scott
RICHMOND. VA. - sue

bAGtoriy fought civil cases ever heard
- Richmond. Clyde w. Saunders was
against A. A Yoder and the Williams
Printing Company for libel yesterday
afternoon In the Law and Equity
Court
Charles W Meredith, counsel for
the defendants, made the usual mo-
ton TO set aside the verdict as con-
U9ry TO the law and evidence, which
Judge Ingram overruled.
The defense was given ninety days
kn which TO file bills OF exceptions I'm
the event that the case will be taken
60 the Supreme Court. II appears this
morning as IL IL will, though it could
not be definitely learned.
Under the instructions the defend
ants are jointly liable, and, SHOULD
enc party not be nLl0 10 make the H.
Quired payment, the other party is
responsible for the entire amount
II thus seems as IL the burden will fall
upon the Williams Printing Company
II is an interesting coinSI dence that
the penalty of $1,000 forms a coun-
terpart of the penalty imposed upon
the Norfolk Pilot, Sam Small. editor,
character by John Z. Massey, for libel,
against that paper more than dozen
years ago, with John S. Wise as
lawyer for the defense.
The vedict was for $1,000, the
same as the verdict of last night, Civ
en- to Clyde Saunders because they
failed to prove he is corrupt political
boss. 1t is the largest verdict ever
given in this State in a case of libel.
That the Yodcr-Williams cause was
hopeless became apparent last Thurs
day, when witness after witness, in
Guiding some of the most prominent
men in Richmond, took the witness
stand and testified as to Mr.. Saunders
business integrity.
However shrewd and indefatigable
ne may have been in politics-what-
-everhis political influence may be, and
wherever his sympathies might be, il
was shown that he was always honest
ano that there was never doubt OF
his word.
Mr.. Saunders said this morning that
this was much more of a qualification
30 him than the actual Verdict-that
II showed people who did not know
him what people who do know him
thought of him.
And" he concluded. Il can only
thank my friends for their conf
The verdict was brought in about
o'clock, and was received in com
plete silence. Not even n lawyer spoke |
until Judge Ingram, with his thanks
for their services, dismissed the Jury
MIR. Meredith then made his motion. !
II the case lacked anything to make |
the situation spectacular, il is fur !
nfsheG in the fact Of Mr.. Yoder hav- |
ing to answer the charge of criminal |
ings Court.
This charge is preferred by w |
Douglas Gordon. Police Commissioner,
with Justice Crutchheld and Chris
Manning. Jr., also a Police Commits
stoner. party complainants. He was
convicted in the Police Court. with
Magistrate Wilbur J. Griggs presiding
and given fifteen days in Jail. Judge
Witt. because he had been censured
In Mr.. Yoder's publication. declined
In<ffNn |
Judge Harrison, of Winchester. will
preside.
AS in practically all such cases the
verdict of last night was in the ma
jury wishing to make 1t more. some
less
The Arguments.
Mr.. Leake closed his argument
early yesterday afternoon, and a
synopsis OF it was printed in The
Journal. He was followed by Mr.
Meredith who admitted chat under
the ,in1-ructions.- the jury would have
TX find for the pIaintiff: aAd' he ar
gu@d TO have the damages made as
small as possible.
Mr.. Scott was bitter in his denun-
citation and excoriation, referring to
Mr.. Yoder as a "sneaking hypocrite"
He also said Yoder had acted like a
viper. He bitterly censured J. Mar
shall Atkinson and Rufus Williams.
Mr.. Meredith did not attempt to
prove the truth of his clients charges.
I'VE believe" he said, that this
matter criticising Saunders was privi-
legged. His Honor has ruled overwise.
and so far this court is concerned,
We can but submit. Now as to the
Character of Mr.. YOder When l find
one man undeub tedly the partner of
the policy king and that is undoubt-
eddy the meanest kind of gambling in !
the world, and the other man asso-
ciating with ministers who sympa- |
thize with his efforts for a clean city, |
then l prefer the latter man. am |
not undertaking to say that every |
thing Mr.. Yoder says is right. No
man stands so high as to be above |
criticism in official position"
ne said that the publication had
not, in fact. damaged the character of
speeches of William l.. Royal in the
election controversy OF 1905. asking
why. if Mr.. Saunders Was not Injured
by those speeches, he was injured by
YOder's statements.
Mr.. Meredith also referred to Mr..
Saunders connection with the tele
phone and street car franchises, say
ing he took a fee without knowing
what he was to do.
Mr.. Meredith closed with an appeal
for minimum damages.
Mr.. Scott began by saying it wasn't
case for a minimum Verdict-that
the damages should be punitive as a
earnings ~~--IIe complimented Mr..
Meredith and SAID. that he had not
offered an excuse for his clients He
said YOder wrote and Williams print
ed what were shown to be falsehoods,
and sought TO justify them by refer
ring to a grand jury, the foreman Of
which, admitted that the grand jury
developed nothing against Saunders.
What caused all this? A sneak
ing hypOcrite from Lynchburg, parad-
ing and masquerade as a preacher,
who stands in court today unable to
Justify his action, though backed by
able counsel. Men may come and men
may go, but the SANDER goes on for
aver. Long after the verdict of this
court has become a part of the musty
archives, that libel will be remember
ed and brought up again and again
hereafter. / propose TO show that
Williams and Yoder are equally guilty
Of malicious libel.
F1,o 10 II