Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1913 — EDITOR BABCOCK SUED FOR $5,000 [ARTICLE]

EDITOR BABCOCK SUED FOR $5,000

J. A. McFarland Charges Publisher of Jasper County Democrat With Malicious Libel. J. A. McFarland, the groceryman, chairman of the Rensselaer democratic committee, has filed a complaint against Editor Frank E. Babcock, of the Jasper County Democrat, alleging false, malicious and defamatory libel, and asking damages in the sum of $5,000. The plaintiff’s attorney is A. Halleck, and the complaint quotes an article published last September, in which Mr. McFarland is severely criticised in the columns of The Democrat.

Probably the most libelous portion of the article published is that which says that Mr. McFarland was unfit to serve as a member of the state legislature and that it would have been an unfortunate thing for him had he been elected. The paragraph closes with the remark: “because he is not a man with sufficient moral stamina to HAVE WENT up against the temptations which are thrown in the way of members of our legislature.” Another portion of the article accuses him of being a disturber, and another says that he is a “peanut politician,” if anything. The same article also accuses him of having made remarks “against Catholics and some of the Catholic organizations.”

Other articles printed during the fall by Mr. Babcock are to be made the basis of other suits, so The Republican is informed. Some two or three weeks ago a demand was made by Mr. McFarland and his attorney for retraction of the things he had said about Mr. McFarland, but the cdj| tor refused toanake retraction and defied McFarland to bring suits. The trial of these suits will test the liability of newspaper publishers who have lambasted individuals through their newspapers. It is move than probable that Babcock will follow the plan In this case that he lias in other suits in which he was a defendant and apply for a change of venue from the eounty.

Get your oysters for Thanksgiving at Nowels’. Shipped direct from Baltimore In pint, quart and 1 gal lon sanitary cans.