New-York tribune., 1918-05-30
Father Of Mount Vernon
Anti-Hearst Ordinance
Charges Libel
Based on Statement
Prosecutor Gave Out
District Attorney Accepts
Summons; Says He Will
Await Complaint

MOUNT VERNON, N. Y, May %
Alderman William G. Dawson, father
Of the ordinance barring William Ran
dolph ,Hearst's "New York American"
and Evening Journal" from circulation
here, to-day started $4,000 damage
suit against District Attorney Swami,
of New York County, for alleged libel.
The summons was served on Mr.
Swami at his office in the Criminal
Courts Building, Manhattan, at $3.50
o'clock this Afternoon. 1t demands
trial in Westchester County. The
complaint, It was announced will be
filed in White Plains and copy of it
served on Mr.. Swami late this week.
The defendant must reply to the COM
plant within twenty days after he re-
ceives il.
Mr.. Dawson's suit is brought in con-
nection with the District Attorneys
investigation of Hearst's complaint
that Certain persons and corpora
tions" have conspired to prevent him
selling his American" and journal"
Based on Swami Statement
J. Henry Esscr, Corporation Coun-
sci Of Mount Vernon, represents Alder
man Dawson, who contends that Mr..
Swami libcled him in an interview
printed in New York newspapers yes
terday, in which the District Attorney
vas quoted as stating that Alderman
Dawson and all his associates who
f~~
were manifestly guilty Of the crime of
Oppression" Mr.. Swami also was
quoted as referring to these aldermen
as guilty persons"
The District Attorney gave out this
interview when he was informed that
Alderman Dawson, who on Saturday
was questioned in the Criminal Courts
Building, Manhattan, in connection
with the Hearst conspiracy charges,
had asserted that the attitude of Mr.
Swami and his assistant, John T. Dool-
ing. at that time made him feel he was
in the office of "Hearsts attorneys"
Alderman Dawson would make no
3 statement today concerning his action
against the District Attorney. Cor
poration Counsel Esser, however, gave
out the following:
1.-THE action commenced by Alderman
Dawson is for libel and the complaint
$4,000. The action is based upon Mr..
Swann's statement to the newspapers
that Mr.. Dawson is guilty Of the crime
Of oppression.
Calls Swann's Course Unusual
Il cannot understand the District
Attorneys course in this matter. 1t is
most unusual for prosecuting officer
| Of a county wherein the acts COM
planned Of did not take place to attack
person in this way through the news
papers. l cannot understand how this
falls within Mr.. Swann's Official duties
Our aldermen were very glad to go to
u New York to be of any service to the
Il District Attorney which they possibly
/ could be when he said that he was
Il seeking evidence of a conspiracy
1 against the Hearst newspapers. But
they did not so there to be called Grim
ii mails.
Il y cannot agree with Mr.. Swami that
/ Alderman Dawson, in violation of Sec
ton e53 Of the penal law, 'unlawfully
! and nialiciously, under pretence or
color Of official authority, did any act
whereby another is injured in his per-
son, property or rights I certainly
must insist that any such act. if com
! mitted. was committed in Westchester
[I County, and the orderly way to prose
cute q person fer an offence IS to ac-
~
IN which the offence was committed
n y know that we suhurhanitcs are
Y net fully conversant with the ways Of
4 the Big City, but among the strange
things have heard that people do in
the Big City, this freak method OF
N trial and conviction through the col
unins Of the newspapers exceeds any
thing that as vet has come to my
notice. | have yet to be initiated into
the wisdom or Justice Of such course
py District Attorney.
III Threat Of Other Actions
III Up here in Westchester County we
are accustomed to a different method
ol procedure and we are simply not
gong to stand for any such abuse of
ouf public officials. Whether the judg-
ment Of cur aldermen in passing the
oacinance IN question was good or bad,
Il :. Wsongfas will be finally determined
.h.a m proper court. they did not pass
n MY my ordnance as lot of criminals.
J1 ;nsr Is no question Of their patriot
Sm anere is no question that they
psssco That ordinance out of a sense
y public duty.
y any one else is willing to 90 on
sTWplI, as Mr. Swami has done, and
will viii tasm ~ lot Of criminals, he, too,
IN w gwen an opportunity to come
a.. as.s INTO Westehester Co.nty be-
.,ha ..as sas oi our trial juries and justify
msnt M ,. asser supplemented his state
D;ssss;sw Ds WIN the announcement that. if
I,ict ra.,lt Attorney swarm 20 DESIRED hc
ssss s'g 90 all in his power to have the
lizard during the June term Of the
assser County Court
II Ss,,~s ~