The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-13
STATE JOURNAL IS SUED
Crawfords Bring Suit for $4,000,
Charging "Malicious Libel"


Charging "Malicious Libel"
The Amusement Syndicate, a cor
poration through which L. NJ. Craw
ford and Roy Crawford conduct the
theatrical business of the Grand Opera
house. last night filed suit against
Frank P. Mac Lehman, editor and pro-
prietor of the Topeka State Journal,
alleging malicious libel" and asking
the court for judgment in the sum of
$4,000.
The suit is alleged to be brought
because of an article published Tues
day, April IL, 1916, in the Noon, Home
and Postscript Editions, which are de-
clared to have large circulation in
Topeka, concerning the condition of
the Grand theater from the standpoint
of safety to patrons of the place.
Copies of the newspapers containing
the statements were attached to the
petition, which was filed in the Shaw
nee county district court.
Five thousand dollars is asked for
the loss of gains which would have
accrued to the business of the COM
pany, $4,000 for depreciation in the
value of the property by reason of the
publication of the article, and $4,000
for punitive damages. In part the
petition says:
THAT said defendant knew that said
words were false and untrue, and ut
tered and published the same mali
ciously and for the express purpose of
| injuring said plaintiff in its business,
and to injure it's property.
THAT said words and statements
made in the above editions of said the
Topeka State Journal were false and
untrue and were intended to, and did,
convey the impression and meaning to
the patrons and customers of this
1ai init l70 nl1inf1ff
aforesaid was wholly unfit for the pur-
pose of giving theatrical performances
Ii and other entertainments, and that the
same had been, and was, condemned,
and that plaintiff was forbidden to
use the same, and that the public gen
| orally could not, and should not, pa
| tronize the said business of plaintiff
| or enter its property, which meaning
| and impression was false and untrue,
and was intended to, and did, injure
/ the value of plaintiffs property and its
business by causing the customers and
patrons of this plaintiff to refrain
from attending and patronizing the
performances and entertainments
therein given"
| J. B. Larimer and Waters and Wa
tiers are the attorneys prosecuting Mr..
MacLennan.
The Amusement Syndicate Company.
The Amusement Syndicate company
was chartered to DO business until
1918.
The original directors named are
D. w. Mulvane, F. w. Freeman, Reu-
ben H. Knowles, c. E. Gait and N.
Taylor.
The present authorized capital
stock is $25O,000.00 paid up.
The places of business are: Topeka,
Wichita, st. Joseph, Joplin, Lincoln,
Omaha and Ell Paso.
| The officers are: Il. M. Crawford.
president; A. Roy Crawford, secretary
treasurer. Directors: L. NJ. Crawford,
o. T. Crawford, A. Roy Crawford, M
E. Crawford and Edith C. Messing.
| The total resources of the company,
as shown by it's financial statement on
file with the state of Kansas, dated De-
cember 81, 1915, are s514.382.SO.
The Petition in the Suit.
The text of the petition filed in
court is in full as follows:
In the District Court of Shawnee
County, Kansas.
The Amusement Syndicate Company,
A Corporation, Plaintiff.
| VS..
Frank p MacLennan, Defendant.
No. 30103.
PETITION.
Plaintiff shows to the Court that it
is, and at all times hereinafter men,
| toned was, a corporation duly or
!
ness as such under and by virtue of
the laws of the State of Kansas in the
City of Topeka, Kansas, and elsewhere,
its principal office and postoffice ad-
dress being at Topeka, Kansas. That
said company was incorporated to do,
4 and has been engaged in, the theater
and amusement business in the said
City of Topeka, and owns considerable
property. and pays considerable taxes
in said City of Topeka. That for a
number of years last past plaintiff
has been, and now is, the owner Of
lots numbered one hundred ninety
1 three (193), one hundred ninety-five
G95), and one hundred ninety-seven
G9O on Jackson street in the City of
Topeka, in Shawnee County, Kansas.
upon which there is large substantial
and expensive building, generally and
well-known as the Grand Opera
House, which building was erected to
be used, and has been. and can be,
used solely for the purpose of furn-
ishing and giving therein theatrics
and other entertainments to the pub
lie generally That said building has
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