Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1889 — Is the Truth a Libel? [ARTICLE]

Is the Truth a Libel?

In the case of the Shelby county vote-buyer, Samuel J. Carpenter, the evidence that he practiced wholesale and systematic bribery was absolutely overwhelming The defendant’s own testimony established his guilt. But it was not and could not be pro / d that his corrupt expenditures of money affected the election of a representative in congress, and for this reason Judge Woods instructed the jury to return a verdict es acquittal, which it did without leaving the box.

In the Coy case the evidence showed that the fraud with wnich Coy was charged was rot intended to affect, did not affect and could not possibly have affected the election ot a representative in congress. Yet this same Judge Woods, who had exhibited trom the beginning of the proceedings the most intense anxiety to convict, instruc ed (virtually) the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty. If Judge Woods was right in his Carpenter ruling, as h > probably was, his instruction in the. Coy case was au infamous judicial outrage. The two rulings were directly in conflict. The bare statement of the facts carries his condemnation with it. and that is probably why his organ calls it 4 a base and brainless libel.'’ The Journal’s “wild and reckless lying’’ about these matters will not help Judge Woods, however. His judicial ieput tion is utterly gone, and no amount of organic lying or h lir-splitting can save even a shred of it.— ndianapolis Sentinel. The Sentinel does not mince it ß words. It strikes out from the shoulder and hits hard.

Circuit and Commissioners’ Coarts convened last Monday. A ttarneys Graham and Marshall have moved into up-stairs rooms in the Makeever bank building. Trustee GreenfLL. will occupy the same rooms. The Citizens’ Bank has purchased the ? tcaied premises, and after enlarging and baautifyingf m i’l occupy it.

Yesterday Circuit Court adjourned over to Monday of next week. Jasper county’s share of the State apportionment of school monies is $5,-313.60 Last evening a c*al eil lamp fell from its fastening and smashe ,in Tuteur’s store, happily with no worse resalts than the momentary fright of those present. Hrs. Hartsell and Washburn opened ?n abscess on Mr. Purcupile s thiob, Thursday of last week, since when there is some improvement in the patient’s condition.