The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-02-16
That Famous Libel Suit.

According to the published statement
in one column the Palmyra News il
published at Palmyra, printed on Fri
day" but under another heading it Ii
apparently run out under other colors
as that headline says atlantic City
Times, Atlantic City, New Jersey,
Thursday, February II, 1916" This is
only an incident, however. The last is
sue of this double-headed paper comes
out with its flag (fguratively speaking)
flying at high mast and 1t pays its re-
spects to Assemblyman Peacock in un-
stinted terms for his failure to bring to
trial the suit which he instituted against
the Palmyra Nea0s for libel. Sleeper, the
editor, is entitled to feel elated at getting
rid of this suit. He says, and we are
going to agree with him, that it would
have been better to have hadthe case tried
than to let it off on a technicality. 1t
certainly would have been more satisfac-
tory in allirespects to have had the cas
tried on its merits. He also says we
made a mis-statement when we said that
Mr.. Tyler moved for q nonsuit. That is
a technicality the same as the suit was
dropped on. Perhaps the court did sug-
gest that the plaintiff was entitled to a
nonsuit, but the latter, If so anxious as
he appears to be to have the trial go on,
did not have to accept that alternative.
The Palmyra NeWs says that its counsel
went to Mount Holly Thursday to meet
Peacock in open court, and makes it ap-
pear that was his only reason for being
here, when in fact he had three cases he
wanted considered. We will agree with
Sleeper that the case ought to be tried on
its merits, and that Assemblyman Pea
analy should III tho r<roOCf 6fIfnanao
toward that end, hence it is to be hoped
if he makes a motion later to have the
case reinstated the other side will not
object. There is no particular advantage
to be gained in a long controversy with
Sleeper, but we will answer n question
he has put to the Mirror and THE NEWS
jointly. He says: you know that some
of these questionable and very unbuisi-
nesslike practices continue. Are you too
busy gnawing other bones to look after
the interests of the public 2"
The reply to this is we do not know
anything of the sort. Perhaps Sleeper
does have knowledge of such facts.
We would not Jay that he has not for
that would be saying he lies, and he has
SO often said he would not allow his
veracity to be attacked that we refrain
from using such a harsh term. But
when he makes such a bald statements
far as THE NEWS Is concerned we have
no hesitancy in saying it is without
foundation. That he may know whereof
he speaks may be sustained by the fact
that he and his counsel spent much
time in the collectors Office looking over
the records and are consequently in a
position to know more about the irregu-
larities than any one else is. He also
says "You knew our stand was not a
personal one but In the interest Of the
taxpayers and good government" That
may be SO, but II it is the fact, why,
with the recently unearthed evidence at
hand, does he call on some one else to
get busy? According to the immaculate
editor Of the Palmyra News, we play
peanut politics." stand in with the
gang" etc, and he alone is holy. Being
such a truthful and upright fellow as he
himself, the public, without proof
to the contrary, must take what he says
about us as SO, consequently he not be-
in with the gang, but being actuated
for the benefit of the public, and
with startling evidence" at his COM
mand, oughtnot try to get others TODD the
that he is SO eminently fitted for.
There are lots Of us peanut politics"
there is but holier than thou
Sleeper.