The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-15
Jury Awards Him 6 Cents Dam
ages Against Chicago Tribune.
Famous Million Dollar Libel
Suit Comes to Sudden End.
COSTLY PIECE OF LITIGATION
Manufacturer VIII Receive Only
$50 Toward Paying Expenses.
Both Sides Consider Outcome
of Case as Victory.

manufacturer, today stood victor in
his million dollar libel suit against the
Chicago Tribune.
After more than ten hours deliber-
alton, jury of farmers-one wassre-
tired-awarded him a verdict of
cents here last night.
Under direction of the court a YER
dict of no cause for action was found
against the Solomon News company,
Detroit distributors of the Tribune.
Attorneys for both Ford and the
Tribune were quoted today as being
satisfied with the verdict.
The important issue has been de-
termined, Mr.. Ford has been vindi-
Gated" Alfred J. Murphy. Ford coun-
sci, said
Money damages were entirely sub
ordinate and were not sought by Mr..
Ford. His friends are entirely satis-
fed
The Tribune is indicated in that
plaintiffs attorney charged us with
These charges have been refuted,"
Weymouth Kirkland OF the Tribune
said
I'VE consider it a victory for the
reason that Attorney Alfred Lucking,
in closing for Mr.. Ford, stated that
anything less than substantial dam
ages would be a defeat for his client"
Immediately after hearing the re-
port, Ernest G. Liebold. secretary to
the manufacturer, wired the news to
Ford. who. with Thomas Edison and
other friends, is Yacationing in the
AdirondackS.
Ford will receive approximately
only $50 from the Tribune toward pay
ing expenses. The Michigan law pro-
vides that where nominal damages are
awarded not more than $50 may be as
sessed against the loser.
Case Cost State $4,000.
The case cost the state of Michigan
approximately $4,000. attorneys~esti-
mated today.
Costs to the litigants were conserva-
lively estimated at 5000 a day during
the progress Of the hearing alone.
Exact estimate of the cost of the
case was impossible, Macomb county
officials said. 1t is an undisputed fact,
they said, the case was one of the most
costly pieces of litigation in the history
of the American bar. -5
Jury Out Ten Hours.
The end of the great suit, which be-
gan three months ago. came when the
lawyers, and spectators had about
made up their minds that they were
trial as the probable outcome.
The jury had been out ten hours
when resoundfng double knock was
heard on the high, old fashioned door
of the juryroom..
Some OF the lawyers had not yet re-
turned from dinner, nor had Judge
Tucker put in an appearance. Bailiff
Kelley went to the door and then hur-
ried to Walter Steffens, the court
clerk, and whispered
They're ready to report"
Mr.. Steffens got Judge Tucker and
the absent lawyers on the telephone
and in ten minutes all was ready.
Foreman Showed Emotion.
Mr.. Hulett was plainly laboring I'M
der suppressed emotion as he rose and
faced the court.
Have you reached a verdict. gem
tlemen?" asked Judge Tucker.
I'VE have" replied the foreman.
You may deliver It"
Mr.. Hulett first gave the directed
verdict of no case against the Solo
mon News company, which distributed
containing the libel. The award
against the Tribune was then given.
and the clerk recorded the following
as the verdict:
You do say upon. your oath that the
said defendant, the Tribune company.
Is guilty In manner and form as the
said plaintiff hath In his declaration In
this cause comnlained and you assess
the damages of the said plaintiff on
costs AMI charges by him about his
suit In his behalf expended, at the sum
of six cents damage. and you find that
the defendant, Solomon Nows company,
is not guilty ms directed by the court.
The jury acknowledged the verdict
as correct and hurried from the court
room. None would discuss their de-
alterations in detail.
Proceedings Over Quickly.
The proceedings were over with as
tonishing brevity. The whole scene
did not require more than five min
utes. The Jurors brushed past report
ers and down the stairs, where they
were soon followed by the lawyers.
Judge Tucker, the handful of specta-
tors who had remained and the court
attaches.
one Juror stated that for six hours
the ballots stood to 4 to give the
four Joined the majority. The remain
ing two held out until nearly o'clock,
when they surrendered and the dou-
BILE knock sounded on the door.
The courtroom was crowded while
the court was charging the jury. AND
a fair crowd remained hour after hour
hoping to be present when a verdict
was reached. The lawyers engaged In
the case were absent at luncheon and
dinner only. The air was electric with
suppressed excitement which exhibited
itself in startled concentration on the
Jury door every time there was the
slightest noise in that direction.
Was Quiet Jury.
1t was a quiet jury. tho. Henry KEEL
was the most quiet one he had ever
handled.
Elliott C. Stevenson. senior counsel
for the Tribune, and Alfred Lucking,
senior counsel for Mr.. Ford. were both
called to DetIoit before the jury re-