The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-22
ASK FOR
DIRECTED
.. VERDICT
Counsel Fowler of Defense in
-. Courier-New Case Asks
for Directed Verdict
PLAINTIFF RESTED TODAY.
Commissioner Jordan Called
to Stand to Tell About His
Sale of Plant
PLAINTIFF RESTED TODAY

Just before noon on the twelfth day
Of The Courier More case
before Judge Pollock in the district
court, the plaintiff rested, upon the
conclusion of testimony given by J.
j. Jordan. commissioner of police and
former publisher of The Fargo Morn
ing Call, The Courier-News.
with the announcement OF Judge
young, counsel for Dr.. Lewis T.. Guild,
that the plaintiff rested, Counsel Fow-
Ter for he defendant entered a mo-
ton for a directed verdict for A. Y.
More.
Basis for the motion is that DR..
Guild a made ample examination Of
the newspaper plant Of The Courier
News prior to his purchase Of the
came on his trip of investigation here,
and that the changing of the ledgers
to provide for the $1,000 entry for
extra papers by Miss Jorgenson on
Mr.. More's request, in no way vitiated
the real showing of the business.
MI. Fowler asked permission of the
court TO cite certain authorities which
he felt upheld his contention for the
motion and which were in a measure
parallel cases. Judge Pollock said he
Would be glad to hear his argument
and requested that these authorities
be presented this afternoon when the
session of court r~econvened.
Early this morning DR.. Guild again
took the stand for a few moments con-
corning the insurance policies carried
on the plant, producing the policies on
request Of defendants counsel last
week.
Jordan Was Witness.
J. J. Jordan, commissioner of police
and one of the veteran newspaper men
OF North Dakota, was the last witness
called by the plaintiff. Mr.. Jordan
stated that he had been engaged in the
newspaper profession forty-six years
and in that time had had practical ex-
p%erience In all fields of the business,
For twenty-one years he said he had
been connected with The Minneapolis
Tribune and the publication it sue
ceeded. For twenty-five years the
commissioner said he had been active
ly engaged in the newspaper business
In the city Of Fargo.
Commissioner Jordan said he estab-
llshed The Fargo Morning Call about
seventeen years 81 and operated the
same for about eleven years, selling it
about five years ago to a group of gen.
tlemen supposed to represent the Or
ganization Of the democratic party of
North Dakota. 1t subsequently be-
came the present Courier-News and
he was familiar with all the changes
in its ownership to the present time.
$4,000 for Franchise.
Mr.. Jordan stated he sold The
Morning Call to these gentlemen for
$17,242.10 and thai that amount COW
he asked $4,000 for the Associated
Press franchise.
Mr.. Jordan went on to describe the
Associated Press and the method of
its operation. He stated that he in
stalled the Associated Press service in
The Fargo Morning Call about seven
wears ago, just about two years before
he sold the plant to the democratic
leaders. Prior to that he said he had
used what was called a Press Bulletin
service.
He said he had never heard of this
Associated Press franchise, which was
listed at $13,500 in the sale to DR.. Guild
as charged by the plaintiff, ever bring
ing such an amount as $13, 500. MI.
Jordan valued The Courier News plant
on Aug. l. 1913, at $4,000.
On Cross Examination.
Counsel Pollock asked the witness if
he had not been told by the gentleman
to whom he sold The Morning Call
that all they were buying the plant
for was for the Associated Press fran
chise, which Mr.. Jordan held. .@,. The
witness stated probably someone had
made such a remark. 1.. - .
Mr.. Pollock asked if c. H, Anheier
and Others had not told Mr.. Jordan
and not the rest of the plant. The wit
ness stated he had had very little par
ley with Mr.. Anheier excepting about
the acceptance of notes for the plant,
which he had refused. He said there
was some discussion about the pur-
chase price out not any to amount to
anything about the A. P. franchise.
transaction was made through George
H Hollister, from whom he received
the payment for the plant.
Witnesses Yesterday.
Several witnesses were called yes
terday afternoon following Miss Jor-
censor. These We're A. Y. More. the
defendant in the action; III. c. Plum
~, former owner of The Fargo Forum.
n A, L. Westernhagen, manager or
the Fargo branch Of the Western
Newspaper Union, " st ~
MT. More was asked about certain
letters pertaining to q negotiated sale
of the paper last June to Hugh Hal
bert OF st. Paul, who had paid $1,000 10.
but who after getting a report on the
plant from a b~ookkeeper he sent here
to check things up, demanded the re-
funding of his money. Mr.. More also
said he had paid for certain bills for
the plant from other sources 10 that
they did not show on The Courier
News books.
Postmaster Plumley, former propri-
etor of The Forum and its managing
editor before becoming postmaster Of
Fargo, testified as an expert newspa-