The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-13
Miss Tiiford Can Collect Her
Judgment for Libel.
AN INTERESTING CASE.
Trial in District Court of Sensa-
tfOnal Order.
Amount Allowed Was Twenty
Three Hundred Dollars.

w. B. Kirkpatrick. national president
of the knights and Ladies of Security
fraternaI order. must pay Miss. Dollie
M. Tilford her judgment of $1,000
against him for SANDER and libel. The
Kansas supreme court has dismissed
his appeal.
Thus ends the famous scandal story
of the K. & L. of S. and the sensa-
tional litigation which has extended
over period of five years. Miss Til
ford had sued for $25, 900. She was al
lowed only $4,000 by a jury in the
Shawnee district court March Is, 1910
She stated at the time that the pay
ment of that judgment would simply
ter and that the amount was of small
significance.
The libel consisted of the circulation
of photograph of a hotel register
showing the names D. M. Tilford and
DIR. A. H. Warner on successive lines
with the room No. set opposite eacn.
The SANDER shown was the alacrity
with which Mr. Kirkpatrick circulated
the supposed scandal.
This was in the month of August,
1906, at the convention of national fra
ternal orders in Montreal, Canada.
Miss Tilford was a delegate at large
representing the fraternaI societies Of
Kansas. DR.. Warner, who was then
medical director of the K & L. of s.,
was a delegate from his lodge, and
candidate for reelection in June, 1908.
Miss Tilfcrd is the daughter of George
M. Tilford, a Santa F'e conductor. who
now lives at 119 East Tenth avenue
DIR. Warner was the family doctor AMI
Miss Tilford's parents entrusted their
daughter to his care on the trip ID
Montreal Mr.. Kirkpatrick attended
as president of his order.
From the history and trial of the
case. it seems the chief purpose the
photograph served was to defeat DR..
Warner for re- election as medical dl-
rector of the order.
Upon arrival in Montreal, DIR. War
ner and Miss Tilford found the hotels
crowded. At the hotel where they had
wired for rooms, the clerk had failed
to hold them but promised to clear
them. It was time for dinner and the
two turned to the Hotel Welland. DR..
Warner registered both names and
asked if there were any rooms vacant.
at that time but that he would see If
he could get one. The doctor then
said they would go to the dining room.
Later the clerk cleared room No. 5
and set the number opposite both
names. After paying for the, dinner,
both went back to the other hotel. DR..
Warner did not ask about the room,
and Miss Tilford had not known that
the doctor had asked for any.
Some lady of Kirkpatrick's party
later in the evening discovered the
names on the register and called Mr..
kirkpatrick. He had a photograph
made for proof and Immediately cir
culated the story that the doctor and
Miss Tilford had occupied the same
room at the Welland.
The trial of the case. which was
filed December "a. 1908, and closed
March IS, 1910, was hard fought by
able attorneys and occupied the court
for a fortnight. In the course of his
examination, Mr.. kirkpatrick said he
had taken photographs and circulated
his story for the sole purpose of de-
feating DIR. Warner as a candidate for
reelection.
| Asked who, when the weeping girl
had not stopped to consider the in
| jury and injustice he had done to al
! innocent girl, he very blandly replied
| that he was not concerned with hel
welfare and that he had felt it his duty
| to his lodge to expose their medical di-
| rector.
! Asked why he had not attempted t.
ascertain the truth of his assertions
he answered that the hotel registel
was enough for him.
ASed why. when the. weeping CIR
and an affectionate father had come tc
his office emploring him to retract his
statement, he had answered them thai
his purpose had been served and the
rest did not matter, he virtually re-
peated that statement.
| With these admissions from thc
! head of the Knights and Ladies, Col
| Joseph G. Waters, counsel for the girl
made one of the most eloquent anG
impassioned speeches ever heard il
| the court room. He moved the juror:
and court room audience to tears anc
held before them the shameless ex
| plot of a woman fair name.
| Though the law firm of Ferry
Doran & Magaw made a desperate eff
fort, they could only cut down th'
| money judgment.