South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-16
HITCH LIBEL SUIT
IS DISMISSED
Local Attorney and News
Times Reach Understanding.
Case 0utgrOWth of Campaign
SINNERS Down to Politics.

Suit for libel instituted by John
w. Kitch lawyer, against The News
Times Printing Co. Gabriel r. Sum-
mers. its president, and John II. Zu-
yer, editor Of The News-Times, was
dismissed in the circuit court to-
day, an understanding having been
reached between the parties. The
suit was the outgrOwth of articles pub
lished in this paper Dec. l. and 3.
last, about the time that Mr.. Kitch
brought action for libel against Sen.
b. f. Shively and Lew O'BannOn, the
latter as editor of the Corydon Dem
Ocrat. The dismissal of the suit
against The News-Times Mr.. Sum-
mers and Mr.. Zuver, calls for the fol-
lowing statement; in accordance with
the policy of the paper which is to &C
cord to all men a square deal, and
where mistakes may have been com
mitted. to frankly seek to correct
them:
Differences Purely Political.
The articles published were not
intended in any way to reflect dis
credit upon the personal charac-
ter of Mr.. Kitch, nor upon his
ability as a lawyer, but were in
tended as mere criticisms OF at
titudes that he had assumed in a
political way during the fall cam
paign, and, Of later conduct in de-
Tense of those attitudes. If the
articles were so wOrded as to in
troduce TO the minds of anyone
another construction that would
east reflections upon Mr.. KitchS
personal character or profession
al ability, or, criticise him other
than as regards his political con-
duct, that portion of the reading
public is asked to disabuse its
mind of such construction mas
much as no such impression was
intended to be conveyed.
Mr.. Kitch is well-known in this
community as a lawyer of ability,
and well-reputed for square deal
ing with his clients. This paper
has never regarded him other
wise. AS a citizen and profess
siOnal man we believe he will
compare favOrably with the ma
jority of the people of South
Bend. The paper, nor its pub
fishers, nor it's editor, have not
and never have had any quarrel
with Mr.. Kitch in any of those re-
CARDS. However due TO his indie
pendence in political matters he
took the stump last fall against
the democratic state ticket
though ne naQ always Deen re-
puted a democrat. and, from re-
ports from over the state, deliv-
cred speeches which in their ma
ture, believing the reports 10 be
true, made him many bitter enc
mics among the members of the
democratic party. Some of these
sought to neutralize his efforts
against their ticket by circulating
reports about his professional and
private life. These reports were
not of the making of this paper
nor were they distributed by it,
though disappearing of his ideas
politically, and certain of his pO-
litical methods and modes of de-
Tense. il did undertake to assert
it's views on what Mr.. Kitch had
been doing, and was doing at the
time.
Mr. Kitch has an unqualified
right 10 his political independ-
ence. When he takes the stump,
however. and becomes an instruc-
tor of voters, his philosophy and
his mode Of debate is as much
open to public inspection as that
of any other campaign orator.
That is as far as this paper went,
or intended TO go in its criticism
OF him. other conclusions drawn
from what was said in these col
umns, with regard 10 Mr.. Kitch,
were unwarranted and unjustif-
able. Mr.. Kitch's private life or
professional career had absolute
" nothing to do with it.