The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-28

our attorney to try it. While he has
engaged other counsel to assist him in
this litigation, he has given most OF
the time to it, and l submit to the court
that it would be very unfair to me to
be forced to go to trial without him.
II would not and could not afford
to ask Mr.. Miller to leave his post at
Montgomery at this time to come here
to engage in personal litigation, regard
less of the Importance of this case. Mr..
Miller, as the elected representative Of
the people, owes his first duty to the
state. and at a time such as this, when
the most important matters in many
years are up for decision, it would be
improper for him to shirk his RESPONSE
bilities and leave to others the duty of
deciding questions as vital as those now
being considered at Montgomery.
For more than 20 years. 1 have re-
sided in Birmingham and Jefferson
county, and Mr.. Huddleston has lived
there about the same length of time
l am known to the people of my county
and so is Mr.. Huddleston. Yet l am
dragged off up here to Blount county,
a county in which neither of us has
lived, to be sued for the largest sum
of money asked of any newspaper for an
alleged libel. The Age-Herald exercised
it's right and performed it's duty to the
public by criticizing the public acts of
u
we are forced to come up here to de-
fend this case in a county in which
neither of us is a citizen. l do not
know what the motives of Mr.. Huddle-
ston were in forcing this case to be
heard up here and in putting this coun-
ty to the expense of this trial. but I
presume he had his reasons.
PLAINTIFF NOT HURT
Mr.. Huddleston has not been in
jured physically by the criticisms of The
Age-Herald. Look at him. He has not
lost an arm or a leg. Only his feelings
have been hurt. Yet he demands of
of $1,300,000 for his injured feelings
Il am very anxious for this trial to
be concluded, but submit to the court
that it would be unfair to force the
hearing of the case with Mr.. Miller
unavoidably absent"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Barretts
statement, Judge Steele announced that
he would continue the case on the
strength of the showing made by the
defense. He expressed regret that the
suit could not be tried now. but that
the reasons for the absence of Mr.. Mil
Ter were sufficient. Judge Steele stated
that he would make an effort to bring
the case to trial at the earliest pos
sible moment and if there was a va
in Blount county, he would have the
case set for that time. Attorneys for
both plaintiff and defendant requested
that the case be set on a Monday to
assure the completion of it at the next
term of court
HUDDLESTON TALKS
George Huddleston. the plaintiff, aft
er the judge had made his decision, adj
dressed the court at some length. in
oh, I,
which he had been put by coming to
Alabama for the trial at this time. He
stated that there were questions Of
grave Importance up in Congress now
and he regretted leaving his post there
Among the important measures which
he declared were under consideration in
Washington now. he mentioned the
Kenyon bill to regulate the meat pack
ers the soldiers land bill and a meas
act He stated he was anxious to get
more money for the soldiers who had
been wounded during the war
1T is not the money involved in this
suit which causes me to leave Wash
ington at this time said Mr. Huddle-
ston. This is matter of principle, and
| owe duty to the public to come here
and prosecute this suit. l care nothing
for the money involved" He declared
that both he and the defendant lived
in Jefferson county and were known
to the people of that county, but the
verdict in the matter had been given
by the voters who had reelected him,
despite the criticisms of the newspapers
Well If the verdict in the case has
already been decided. why not drop the
NATTER" asked Mr. Barrett
The Age-Herald made an effort to
assassinate me politically" said Mr.
Huddleston.
The President of the United States
agreed that we were right in the posi-
ton we took" answered Mr.. Barrett
THE President took his position and
formed his opinion on lies" said Mr..
Huddleston.
At this point, Judge Steele stated that
the courtroom was no place for a po-
litical argument, and Mr.. Huddleston
ceased his address.
Bakers Rest Labor Day