Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-08-15
Jury Returns Verdict Fer Six
Cents After Many Hours
Of Debate.
TRIAL COST STATE OF
MICHIGAN THOUSANDS
Both Sides Express Salisfac-
ion And Each Claims To
Be INDICATED.

Mount Clemens, Mich. Aug. H.
United Press.)-Henry Ford, miIlion-
aire automobile manufacturer, today
stood victor in his million dollar libel
suit against the Chicago Tribune.
After more than ten hours deihcr2-
tion, Jury Of farmers awrrdea him =
verdict Of six cents here last night
Under direction Of the court verdict
of no cause for action was found
against the Solomon News company, ne
troit distributors Of the Tribune.
Attorneys for beth Ford and the Tsi-
hume were quoted today as being salts
fled with the verdict.
.'The important issue has been deter
mined; Mr.. Ford has been vindieated, -
Alfred J. Murphy, Ford counsel, said.
"The Tribune is viadicated in that
plaintiff s attorney charged US with be-
ing pro.German and unpatriotie. These
charges have been refuted,v Weym0nth
kirkland of the Tribune said.
The ease cost the state Of Michigan
Approximately $4,000, attorneys esti-
mated today.
Costs to the liiigants were eeaserva-
lively estimated 1T 5000 day during
the progress Of the hearing alone.
The Ford Tribune case was one Of the
most novel in legal history. II dated
back to early 1916 when the Chicago
Tribune puhilshed the now famous
"Ford Is An Anarchist" editorial,
based on certain Ford signed advertise
ment. against preparedness.
Fn.a deiaaldeG fetfaetion. The news
pupcr refused declaring in letter that
although Ford, migbt not be a b,.r.b
throwing anarchist, he was against the
government.
Suit was filed shortly afterward in
United State district court, northeast
crh district Of Illinois, before Judge X.
NJ. Lands.
Answer was filed snd Ford domurfed
to the answer The demurrer was uader
consideration when Ford dismissed tho
suit
shortly af,erward new suit was
filed in the circuit eouri Of Wayne coun
~, (Detroii) thus bringing into the eass
solomon Bros, Detroit newsdoalers, who
sold the Tribune as co.defeadants.
Fourteen wcees ago the trial started
here after a eL1nec Of venue had bes-i
granted the Irip.ne, which cOntendesi
Il fair trial wurll not be possible at Dc
troit, Ford s home town.
Through the weeks attorneys thresh-
cd over the evidence with but little TO
break the montonv until Ford himself
took the stald a few weeks ago lie re-
mained for seven days Of vexaiions
questioning.
During this time he admitted adver-
tisements fighting what he termed "os-
er preparedness were written for him
bv his "peaee secretary Theodore De
Iaviugne and only signed by Ford.
Attorney Stevenson OF the Triba =,
by much questioning brought him 70
the admission that he knew little about
history and politics even though he
attempted to educate ihe people to his
preparedness plans and was candidate
/ for United States equatorial nomination
recently"
Ford admitted he never had heard or
John Andre, said he thought Benedict
Arnold was a writer and that a mobile
army was a large army. lie knew, how
ever. The inirieaeies Of mechanics and
WIS much more at ease when the ques-
tionine dnlicd TO subjects relating to
his life study
The manufacturer on the stand was
vol the seifrcliant, unobtrusiye worker
he is al his plant Clearly be was ner-
lveus. unaequain,cG with his surround
lines, too willing to answer ques',sn-
that the trial IL. hit be spceded c~-a
LAT cost to himself. Failure to wals tes
1.-THE cuioing advice Of his atiornei got
him in many q tangle. lie would sit
slumpea slightly forward, his ehiH cup
ped in his hand, his brow wrinkled. his
right hand twitehiag, turning, thumb
rubbing over fingers, crossing snd re-
crossing his feet, seemingly deeply en-
crossed in his inquisitoF and that gea'
tlemen 5 efforts yet eaueht many times
mentally tinkeling with some meeheHi'
cal subject.
His last two days on the siaad saH
Ia stiffcning against the Tribune aiior'