Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1910 — ASKS FOR $20,000 DAMAGES. [ARTICLE]

ASKS FOR $20,000 DAMAGES.

Four Libel Sults Filed Against Owners of the Rensselaer Republican. Through his attorney, Frank Davis of Brook, recognized as one of the ablest attorneya .practicing in this judicial circuit, Frank E. Babcock, one of the directors and also secretary of the Home Telephone Co., filed four suite Monday In the circuit court against Ira M. Washburn, George Healey, Leslie Clark, and Mrs. Kate Watson, owners of the Rensselaer Republican, asking for |20,000 libel damages to his character, reputation and business because of false charges made by the said newspaper against tue plaintiff. Three of the cases grow out of the many and frequent charges of graft made by the Republican in the recent petition for a franchise in the city of Rensselaer by the Home Telephone Company, and one is based on a scurrilous and malicious article of and concerning plaintiff published in said paper in January, 1909. Notices to retract the libelous charges were filed with the publishers and owners of the said newspaper, ab provided by law, but to date no retractions have been made. The Indiana courts define libel as any article* written or published which tends to hold, a person up to scorn or ridicule, deprive him of hie good name and reputation or Injure hie business or character, etc., etc. * The truth of the Charges made in an action for libel is a complete defense, and It is up to Messrs. Washburn, Healey, dark and Mrs. Watson to establish the truth of their charges. If they are true there is no libel; If untrue the evidence in court should thoroughly vindicate Mr. Babcock of these charges which he claims were made for the sole purpose of injuring his character, reputation and business, and are false in every particular. The Republican's charges were also a libel on every one of the directors of the Home Telephone Co, and it is probable that other suits for damages will follow, with perhaps criminal prosecution also. The casein already filed are returnable at the February term, which convenes one week from next Monday. Sale blits printed white you at The Democrat office.