Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1885 — The Loucks-Louthain Suit. [ARTICLE]

The Loucks-Louthain Suit.

A Forged Letter Clauses the Judge to Dismiss the Jury .... and Postpone the Case. The celebrated Logaosnort slander suit of Rev W. E. Loucks against B F. Loiithain, .editor of the Li’gansporl' Pharos, for SIO,OOO damages was on trial last WeCk, and from Friday of the We k previous, at Delphi, on charge of venue. During the trial (wo girls, Mollie Me Hale and Louisa Zanget tesiificd Chat they hud livbd at Mr. L>u kts' house in t.io capacity of hired girls, and whiie there Mr. Loucks hid come to their rooms at night and attempted improper liberties with them. Mr. Loucks denied these statements point blank; ana also established a succes.--ful alibi, as to one of the dates mentioned by one of the girls, having prov ed that he was at Vu.paiaisd up >u the night when the girl alleged that he vis ted her bed-room. But th? case came to a sensational end Friday morning. While one of the attorneys for the defease was making his argument. Judge Davidson, belore whom the case was tried, interrupted the arguand ctited, in effect, that he felt in duty bound to dismiss the jury and o ntiuu! the ease over until the June term. Judge Davidson stated to the jury nnd counsel that a circumstance iu connection..with the tria Ihadb ee n brought to his notice that would vitiate whatever v> rdict might oc rendered. He said that neither the court, jury; nor counsel in the case were in uny way reSp usiblc, but thutthe facts that led to thb Summary action could net be made public Lt Was ascertained, that evening, thgt the night,before a.mtunber of the jury received a letter addressed to all the jurors and signed by Moilie McHale, the principal witness against Mr. Loucks, in which she Stated that her testimony in the cash was false; that Mr. Loucks had always treated her ns a lady, and that she had been forced,to take the witness stand and testify as she did. 'The Judge was at once put in possession or the letter; He summoned the leading counsel on both sides, and after Consultation Miss Me Hale was summoned from Logansport To Delphi. When shown the letter she pronounced it a f irgery; Only alter -nurtierous consultations was Mr, Tuley interrupted, in the midst of his argument, and the jury dismissed. The origin ci theletter is a mystery which Judge Davidson is &tTempting to clear up; Each side atlributes. it to the other, while conservative elements iay it to some crank. Mr. Loucks announces his determination di pushing the case, and it probably come up in June, before Judge Gou d.