Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1907 — A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. [ARTICLE]

A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.

The Rensselaer Republican’s keen disappointment over Judge Palmer’s action in Halleck’s “libel” case against The Democrat man is indeed pathetic. The Republican has done much to encourage these uncalled for suits in the past, but after the senior editor was given a taste of what a real libel suit looked like, a few years ago, to the extent of depleting his pocketbook of a'number of'dollars, he has been quite “good” until recently. His previous remarks in this case are actionable, but as the old man is soon going to Rogue River valley for keeps, perhaps it is better to let him go than to try to detain him any longer. As a matter of fact there was nothing in this case nor never was, and it should have been thrown out of court when it first first came up. It was one of the flimsiest cases ever brought in the state, and we doubt if its equal was ever heard of before. The affidavit was a tissue of false and misleading statements from beginning to end, and while Judge Palmer’s principal objections to the instrument may have been somewhat technical in order to let the “persecution” down as easily as possible, yet there were a half dozen or more valid grounds for knocking it out. Had the case ever gotton in the higher courts, which it most assuredly would if by any miscarriage of justice a conviction resulted, it would have lasted there about as long as the proverbial snowball in the lower regions. Judge Palmer’s well known ability and his reputation and prominence as a jurist, serving as Judge of the Carrol-White circuit court for a dozen years or more and former president of the State Bar Association, is not likely to suffer from any criticism the editor of the Republican may offer. However, if the Republican is so deeply concerned over Judge Palmer’s ruling as its criticism of that gentleman would suggest, it better have Abe appeal from the court’s ruling.