Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-10-09
REACH AGREEMENT
IN SANDER CASE

The case Of the State of Wisconsin
against Frank Terbilcox came up be-
fore Court Commissioner III. l.. Hal
sted for preliminary hearing Tuesday
and sitter the witnesses were sworn
and examined at length it appeared
that the story involving Father E. G.
O'Teilly was absolutely without foun.
dation. The defendant was charged
with having spoken falsely and SLAM
derously of Father O'Rellly and ii
seems that he had repeated thought
lessly what had been told to him.
The states witnesses proved conclu-
sivelytthat there was not particle of
truth in the charge and the defendant
did all he could 10 repair the wrong he
had unwittingly committed. He
made written retraction and as the
com planning witness merely desired to
prove to the public tha falSity of the
charge and to vindicate his good name
and did not desire TO prosecute anyone,
he requested the district attorney 10
take no further steps.
Many citizens do not understand
that it is as serious an offense to re-
peat sIanderous story as to originate
it. The present law makes it q crimt-
nal oftense for anyone to repeat OF
another stories that are false and SLAM
derous and rightly places the blame
upon the palties who repeat as we'll as
the parties who originate these SLAM
derous stories.
The case was very satisfactorily dis
posed Of, In view of the willingness of
the defendant, when be learned how
he had injured the complaining wit
ness and an innocent little girl, to
make full and complete retraction.
Father O'Reilly accepted this retrac-
ton in the same spirit and did not iu-
sist upon the imposition of any fine or
Jail sentence.
The following is copy of the de-
cision by the court commissioner and
the retrsction which Mr.. Terbilcox
filed with the court:
The action of the State of Wi consin
against Frank Terbilcox, defendant,
was brought on the complaint of Faith
er E. g. O'Reilly, tue Catholic priest
in Baraboo, on the charge that he, the
said Frank Terbilcox, had spoken
slanderous words of and concerning
the said Father O'Reilly
The examination having been heard
all persons interested in the alleged
Islander having been sworn and exam
med at length, the young lady and
her parents having been present 10
court, it appears from all the testi-
mony that the words alleged to have
been spoken were not true and could
not possibly have had any foundation
or justification; and it further appears
that by the wide circulation given tC
this SANDER a great wrong has been
done to this complainant and a very
cruel injustice perpetrated on pure
and innocent young girl of the tender
age of sixteen years, SANDER which
all good citizens ought to feel an inter
terest in quietlng; aud it further ap-
pears that the defendant herein, Frank
Terbilcox, in repeating the Islander
was not actuated by malice and had
no intention of injuring or wronging
either the complainant or the young
lady and has made written state
ment which is now on file in the court
in which he now affirms that he had no
justification for the words spoken and
had merely repeated what had been
said to him by another and does not
now believe it to De true; and it being
satisfactory to all parties Ia the case
by and with the advics and concent
of the district attorney, the case is dis
missed and the defendant discharged