The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-04-29
DETROIT PAPER IS
CAUSE OF NIISTRIAL
COnfers With SapirO and Ford COun-
sci Regarding New Hearing-Gal-
lagher Appeals for Continuance of
Trial Before IL Jurors.

Detroit, April 21.-Aaron Sapiro's
S1,0O0,000 libel suit against Henry
Ford and the automobile manufac-
turer's weekly, the Dearborn indie
pendent, fell by the wayside Thurs
day when Federal Judge Fred M.
Raymond declared mistrial.
He held with the Ford attorneys
that the jury had been contaminated
by newspaper publication of an inter
view with juror, Mrs. Cora Hoff-
man.
Apparently this case must fall at
this time," the court regretfully an
nounced. at falls to a large extent
because justice has been crucified on
the cross of unethical and depraved
journalism"
He discharged the jury and immed-
lately called John A. Baxter, acting
federal district attorney, and instruct
eG him to investigate, and if his find
ings warranted, file contempt pro-
ceedings against the publishers of the
Detroit Times, the reporter who in
terviewed Mrs. Hoffman, and any
others involved in the publication of
her statement in that newspaper.
Judge Raymond stated from the
bench that there seems to be no
thing to support other charges
against Mrs. Hoffman and Sapiro.
made in Is affidavits, mostly by Ford
detectives in support of the motion
for a mistrial.
The outstanding allegation was
that Mrs. Hoffman frequently had
been seen and overheard talking to
j. kid Miller, who in turn had been
observed talking earnestly with Sa-
piro, and that Miller had been heard
to remark to Mrs. Hoffman that by
doing certain things she could earn
thousands of dollars
Discuss New Trial
I After Judge Raymond announced
his ruling he met the attorneys in
chambers to discuss a new trial, but
no agreement was reached and they
separated to meet for a further dis
cussion Saturday, April 30
William Henry Gallagher, chief of
counsel for Sapiro, asserted after the
meeting that he had suggested that
since there was a shortage in gov
eminent funds from which to paw
jurors, the plaintiff and the new de-
PENDANTS share the expense and 90
ahead Immediately with new trial.
Sapiro even offering to pay all ex-
penses himself.
The Ford attorneys, headed by
Stewart Hanley, of Detroit, in the
enforced absence of Senator James
A. Reed of Missouri, chief of Ford
counsel, who was removed to the
Henry Ford hospital early Thursday
morning demurred and suggested that
information as to the legality of Che
action be obtained before the April
80 meeting.
1t was understood that federal
funds would be available after the
end of the fiscal year June 80, and
there was a suggestion that court
room work in the heat of summer be
avoided by agreeing upon early Sep
TENDER as date for the beginning
of new trial.
Turn Deaf Ears
Ford counsel turned deaf ears upor
Gallagher's impassioned courtroom
plea to proceed with "eleven or ter
or four or three jurors"
He addressed the court for As min.
utes, after Hanley tersely stated that
the motion for a mistrial was in
Judge Raymond's hands, but at the
end denied that he was pleading
against the section of the four-part
motion which asserted the disqualifi.
cation of Mrs. Hoffman by virtue OF
the interview.
1t is just question now of wheth-
er they want delays and are taking
this nefarious way of getting de-
lay or if they want justice and are
willing to try this case," shouted Gal
lagher, as he pounded the counsel
table under the noses of the Ford at
torneys.