Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1881 — As to Libel Suits. Baltimore American. [ARTICLE]

As to Libel Suits. Baltimore American.

There is a class of small lawyers in nearly all the large cities who make a specialty of libel suits against newsjiapers. It is the practice of some of these to search the columns of the reputable journals to find statements that they can distort into libel, send for the “injured person” and inflame his cupidity with promises of heavy damages, and offer to prosecute the ease on a contingent fee. The real object is, usually, to secure “a compromise”—or, in other words, to induce to pay a small sum rather tfflm undergo the annoyance and expense of defending a libel suit. The New York Herald, in an admirable article on “blackmailing newspapers,” says: “The Bt. Louis journals are complaining of an annoyance to reputable journalism, which exists in a greater degree, perhaps, in this city than in the Southwestern capital; namely, the practice of suing newspapers for libel on the most absurd and frivolous charges. These suits, as a rule, are instigated by low, pettigogging ‘shysters,’ and in nearly every' instance the sole object in view is -the extortion of mouey. No respectable journal will knowingly and willingly injure any man in reputation, ard when perchance it does sb, it will always be found ready to make the fullest reparation. There is a class of so-called law’yers in this city, and we infer from our St. Louis contemporaries that that place is similiarly infested who make it their business to carefully read the newspapers, ami when they find a statement that can be possibly tortured into a ground for libel, ’to induce the pretended injured person to employ them, holding out the hope of large and certain damages. The whole thing is simply blackmail in the name and under the forms of law. These so-called lawyers, who disgrace an honorable profession, jjever mean that the suits they induce unsuspecting persons to bring shall go to trial. In nine cases out of ten they are willing to make a compromise for fifty or a hundred dollars, which some newspapers pay rather than be subjected to the annoyance and inconvenience of going into court. As a measure of protection against these harpies, an amendment to the libel law of Missouri is suggested by the St. Louis journals. A similar change in the statutes on the subject here might lie of very great advantage to respectable journalism.”

A long established and respectable journal lias no interests antagonistic to those of the public. It is the faithful friend and guardian of the commnuity against all the hurtful influences that may assail it —a sentinel that never sleeps at its post. In its fearless discussion of all things which affect the public Wei tare, in its exposure of corruption and its denunciation of wrong, it may sometimes, without intending it, bear unduly upon individuals. When it does so, and harms any innocent person, it is always ready with redress and reparati .n. In giving the items of local news-the statements of events which the public has a right to know and it ought to know—slight errors may occur at times, however carefully the work is done. Whenever such a mistake occurs, a respectable journal will be quite as anxiousrto repair the error as the individual can be who suffers by it The general public knows that this is so. Juices know that it is so; and the consequence is that nine out of ten “damage suits for libel” result in a verdict tor the newspaper, and leave the plaintiff'a bill of costs to pay. If newspapers were “bled” frequently by such lawsuits, the public would be a loser. If the verdicts were against them, they would be so cowered as to be deprived of their efficiency as public sentinels. They would hardly dare to speak out for justice and right, for fear that, their best services to the public would be most prolific of libel suits and damages. If shyster lawyers could have their way J the press would lie muzzled as much as by an official censorship. It is therefore, well for both press and public that juries should go to the bottom of these suits. Where a real injury has been done through negligence or malice, they can redress it. But where petty errors occur, such as may easily be redressed by a few’ words of explaination .and were no real injury has resulted, they should not fail to stand by the newspapers. No respectable journal can afford to be sw’erved from its honest course by fear of pettifogging shysters or their libel suits.