New Ulm review., 1922-11-22
EDITOR IS FOUND
GUILT / ] | ]! J Y OF Il LBEL | ]
AT !. / TER ] , JU|R| | ! TRIAL | 4 !
w. E. Schei Of Lamberton
Star is Given Two
Months In Jail
COURT SAYS LIBELOUS
ARTICLES MUST CEASE
Sentence Is Suspended To
Give Defendent An
other Chance.

H {
other Chance.
w. E. Schei, editor Of the Lamberton
Star, was found guilty Of criminal
libel by jury in the Redwood county
district court November 13 and SEN
fenced the following day to 60 days
in the Redwood county jail by Judge
I. M. Olsen. .s
The sentence was suspended by the
court for six months on condition that
Schei cease publishing libelous articles.
This Schei agreed to do and his paper
has since come out with blank spaces
where he formerly attacked merchants
who had withdrawn their advertising
from his columns.
Indicted October Is.
Schei was indicted by the Redwood
county grand jury on October 25,
1922 for criminal libel against Charles
Chester, a Lamberton merchant and
bank president. In the issue of the
Lamberton Star for October IL, Schei
had declared that the public refuses
to encourage Chester to 60 on playing
with the bank and with the public's
money as though it were his own, ap-
plying the influence and prestige Of
his position for the furtherance of un-
becoming and selfish personal in
terests.''
Schei entered a plea of not guilty.
The case came to trial at 1880 p. m.
November 13. 1t went to the jury at
4:30 p. m. and that body returned a
verdict of guilty of criminal libel
three hours later.
Articles Must Cease.
In sentencing Schei the following
day Judge Olsen took up a copy Of the
Star and pointed to ibelous articles
which must cease. 1t has been the
habit of Schei for over two years to
direct abusive attacks against adver-
tisers who had withdrawn their bust
ness from his columns. These COM
ments we're published in the spaces
formerly occupied by the advertise
ments. The court declared that all
such matter was libelous. AS a result
of the decision, the Star for November
I16, contained Is columns of blank
space and nine columns of printed
matter. .~t <- ;,@....
Judge Olsen's Decision.
The decision of Judge Olsen in full
| is as follows:
You, w. E. Schei, having been ac-
cused by the Grand Jury Of this Coun-
ty, by their Indictment dated on the
25th day Of October, 1922, wherein
and whereby you are. charged with
the crime of criminal libel, as set forth
in said Indictment, and you having
pleaded not guilty to the indictment
in this case, and you having been duly
tried before the Court and Jury upon
Isaid Indictment and the Jury in your
case having duly rendered and re-
turned it's verdict herein that you are
guilty of the crime so charged, which
verdict has been received and recorded
| in this case. Mo-
Therefore it, is considered by the
court that you, w: p. Schei, are guilty
Of and have been duly convicted Of the
crime by publishing a criminal libel as
set forth in the ind ictment in this case,
land Il. u. a..,s .a.,l, IL
4, 1t, is further. considered by the
EcouTt, that, as a punishment for said
crime Of which you have been so duly
convicted. !. you be and hereby are
sentenced to be committed to and con.
fined iii the Redwood County Jail, in
custody Of 81 the Sheriff Of said County
for 4 term 81 period Of sixty (6o) days
has Iethave already Indicated, this
sent ence ]. at this time, will be suspend.
led for six months On the condition
/ that YOU behave yourself and obey
4 the laws Of this state, be Of good. be;
havior, and on the condition that YOU
cease publishing libelous articles the
II:way yeu have been doing # The
!! Court feels at any time that you arc
mot living up to the conditions i'm:
1 posed then the Court reserves the right
lat any time to revoke the suspensior
4 Of sentence and order you committed
i Dated this 14th day Of November
4 "A. D. 1922.
4 L M. Olsen, District Judge
B.s j Krahn, monument dealer, at
tended the quarterly meeting Of th
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