Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-15

The Henry Ford-Chicago Tribune
81 600, 600 libel suit ended last night
with verdict Of cents damages for
Henry Ford. Mr.. Ford was not in
court. capt J. NJ. Patterson. one Of
the publishers Of The Tribune. was
present
The jury remained out ten hours, re-
porting at o'clock last night, The
first ballot, according to Juror Measels,
was 8 to in favor of the plaintiff.
The rest of the time was spent in
argument as to damages.
Orvy Hulett, foreman Of jury, said
that they took nine ballots that |
can remember" the first one, accord
ing 10 Leonard Measels. another Juror,
standing eight TO four in favor OF
awarding Mr. Ford some damages.
Does the award Of cents about
express the feelings Of the jury as TO
the case?" reporter asked Mr.
Hulett.
1T just about does. That expresses
our judgment"
Views Of the Lawyers.
Attorney Alfred ]. Murphy, for Mr..
Ford, said:
The important issue Of the case
has been determined favorably to the
plaintiff He has been vindicated.
Money damages were entirely sub
ordinate and were not sought by Mr..
Ford. He stands not only vind!cated,
but his attitude as an American citl-
zen has been justified after a trial
which raised every issue against him
which ingenuity and research could
present. His friends are entirely salts
fed"
Weymouth Kirkland Of counsel for
the Tribune said:
IF a scent verdict had been asked
for in this case it would not have
lasted three months. 1t was not what
Mr.. Lucking insisted upon. He said a
small verdict would be defeat. we
are satisfied if he is
Jury Out Ten Hours.
The close Of the great suit. when
BEGAN fourteen weeks ago. came when
the lawyers and spectators had about
made UP their minds that they were
in for a night Of waiting and watching'
with a mistrial as the probable out
come.
The Jury had been out ten hours
when a. resounding knock was heard
on the high, old fashioned door of the
jury room.
Some Of the lawyers had not yet re-
turned from dinner. nor had Judge
Tucker put in an appearance. Bailifs
Kelley went to the door and than
clerk. and whispered:
They're ready to report
Verdict is Returned.
Mr.. Steffens got Judge Tucker and
the absent lawyers on the telephone
and in ten minutes all was ready.
Mr.. Hulett. the foreman. was plainly
laboring under suppressed emotion as
he rose and faced the court.
Have you reached a verdict gentle
men," Judge Tucker asked.
I'VE have" the foreman replied.
You may deliver it"
Mr.. Hulett first gave the directed
verdict of no case against the solomon
News company. which distributed CO.
pies Of the Tribune of June %, 1916,
the editorial. The award
against the Tribune was then given.
Verdict is RsooTued.
The clerk recorded the following as
the verdict:
You do say upon your oath that the
said defendants, The Tribune compa-
ny. is guilty in manner and form as the
said plaintiff hath in his declaration in
this cause complained and you assess
the damages Of the said plaintiff on
occasion Of the premises over and
above costs and charges by him about
his suit in this behalf expended. at the
sum of s cents damages and you find
that the defendants, Solomon News
company, is not guilty as directed by
the court"
The jury acknowledged the verdict
as correct and hurried from the court
room. None would discuss their de-
in detail.
History of Case.
It was on June %, 1916, after Mexi-
can bandits had raided Columbus y.
NJ, and military preparedness was a
burning issue, not only because of the
Mexican menace but because Of the
in Europe, that the Chi
cago Tribune printed its famous edi-
torial headed Ford is ali Anarchist"
Editorial writer's of the Tribune
testified that they had followed Mr..
Ford's pacifist propaganda, but had
not recognized 1t as a real danger to
the country until a news item was re-
ceived from Detroit that Mr.. Ford was
trying to discourage the recruiting OF
the guard which had been ordered to
the Rio Grande. The item, anthem
ITCHY Of which was denied by Ford
witnesses, stated that the Ford COM
pany would not pay the salaries OF
employees who went to the border, hold
their places for them nor care for their
dependents.
It was then that the editorial was
written. It called Mr.. Ford an Gig
norant idealist" and remarked that his
views on ,iisa1 ;7is1..o1i. Nigh. &c DIFF
ferent II his factories were on the Rio
Grande instead Of the peaceful Cana
dian border. &. "a"
Counsel for the manufacturer first
filed suit in the federal court, at Chi
cago, but later withdrew 1t and insti-
tuted proceedings in the state court at
Detroit. Here the Tribune applied for
a change of venue and Judge James
G. Tucker, Of the circuit court Of Ma
comb county at Mt. Clemens, was
agreed upon to hear the case. Selec-
ton Of a jury began May. IL and 1t
consisted of eleven farmers and one
roadbuilder.
Effort 70 Prs.s Anarchy.
feature of the case was the pro-
duction by the defendant OF more than
twenty witnesses from the Mexican
border to testify to raids murders and