Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1899 — Arrested For Libel. [ARTICLE]

Arrested For Libel.

Several weeks ago the Jasper County Democrat charged that an over charge of $22.55 had been made for publishing the last delinquent tax list, the charge being, of course directed against G. E. Marshall the publisher of the Republican. That charge with some similar ones have been reiterated by the Democrat in some form or another several times since the original publication. Now we think any fair minded person will agree that no newspaper editor nor any other person should make and continue to make charges of criminal conduct of this kind, which they do not know to be true, aud are not ready to prove the truth of. We therefore, last Wednesday morning, caused the arrest of Frank E. Babcock, charging him with criminal libel in making this charge against us. The case came before Squire Burnham, this morning. But instead of being ready to present the evidence which would justify him in making these charges, and which he ought to have been sure of before he made them, he appeared and made solemn oath that he could not get justice in Marion township. The case was sent to Squire Carmi Hays, of Fair Oaks, and set for August 15th. The fact that Mr. Babcock was ready to take solemn oath that he could not get fair trial among the people of Marion township, is one that furnishes grounds for reflection; and it was the people and not the justices that objections were directed at. Here he has been, for months past, making continual attacks upon the editor of this paper, with scarcely a word against him in reply, yet the result of this onesided battle is that be is so afraid of his own standing among the people where he lives that he swears he can not get a fair trial. There are several other statements made by Democrat which its editor will be given an opportunity to prove in a court of justice, if he can do so.