The Irish standard., 1915-02-20
FEDERAL JUDGE SCORES THE MENACE PUBLISHERS
Judge Van Valenbg Suit Scores Meteods
Defence used by publishers Nature of Known
and Readers Will Take Contents With Grain of satn
Say observation-disclosures Deceived

The suit of Father Rossman of
Wheeling, West Virginia, against The
Menace. which resulted in a full vim
dictation of the Father, also shed light
OH the dishonesty of the publishers
of the vile sheet.
The following facts and comments
are based on the official records of
the trial before Federal Judge Abram
S. Van Valkenburg of Kansas City.
They clearly indicate that the publish
ers of The Menace are not actuated
by honest motives. They are wilfully
and deliberately tratlicking in lies and
obscenity. They are blasting reputa-
tions of men and women for money.
While this has been the well grounded
belief of all decent people, it is only
now we can say it on the authority
of Marvin S. Brown who owns the
majority stock of The Menace and
frames its policy. We have Mr..
Browns own word for it when lie
was under oath to tell the truth.
When the trial opened in Joplin the
attorneys for The Menace made a
statement to the court and jury, out
lining the facts which they proposed
to establish in defense of their client.
They stated they would prove that in
publishing the story OF Father Ross
mans alleged indiscretions The Men
ace did so from a pure motive and
on the authority OF IL reliable and
honest correspondent in Wheeling,
West Virginia. They declared the
story had been investigated by The
Menace and read Il published letter
written by Mr.. Marvin Brown address
ed to wheeling friends" The letter
was written twelve days before the
trial was called and stated that Mr..
Brown would be ready to print the
facts if occasion arose." and make the
friends in Wheeling sit UP and take
notice"
1t was further alleged that MIR.
Brown had full and detailed evidence
that a detective, hired in Wheeling by
Father ROssman came to Aurora, Mis-
souri,, the home OF The Menace, and
stole cards from the files in the Men.
ace office, in order that The Menace
might not "properly defend itself.
The attorneys also said they would
prove that the alleged libel against
as intended by The Menace, which did
not make Il special or exclusive bust
ness of villifying the Catholic Church
and her priesthood. The Menace was
described as a patriotic organ design
ed to defend the public school system
and save the country from the politi-
cal Vaccinations of the Roman Catho-
lie Church. The Menace through Its
attorneys pleaded justification for pub
fishing the story about Father Ross
man and denied any malice in it's
publication.
The above, in n few words, is the
full defense Of The Menace Publishing
Company. The case for Father Ross
man was quickly presented. The fact
of the publication of the alleged libel
was acknowledged. Witnesses were
on hand, Catholic and non-Catholic,
to testify to the good repute Of Father
Rossman and the want of any known
fact in his life or ministry to give rise
to suspicion of his moral character.
They also testified to the general i'm.
preston gathered by readers from
reading the articles in The Menace.
Their testimony established that the
article by innuendo accused Father
Rossman of a grave violation of the
moral law and there was nothing in
the life or conduct of Father Rossman
to justify il.
The only really responsible witness
for The Menace was Mr.. Marvin
Brown who controls the majority
stock and dictates it's policies. After
few preliminary questions and the
direct examination of his attorney
for which he had apparently been well
coached, he was subject to cross-ex.
animation by the attorneys for the
plaintiff. 1t soon became apparent
that Mr.. Brown had been guilty of the
objectionable sin Of lying to his own
attorneys. In opening the case his at
torneys had offered certain lines OF
defense, based OH what their client
had told them. One of the first ques
tions put to Mr.. Brown by the attor
neys for Father Rossman shattered al
hope for successful defence. Mr.
Brown frankly admitted The Menace
was essentially anti i-Catholic. Wher
the question was put to him bluntly
"You do not publish anything favor
able to that Church or to the priests,
he answered, mo" He was asked i
The Menace ever published natter
detrimental to the Protestant minis
ters IL it came to their attention an,
he answered, 1--WE leave that to tn,
Catholic papers" He was then aske,
II The Menace published only thOs,