| Show f LIBEL SUITS f judge powers in his defense 0 the tribune la the libel suit brought by jones of salt lake mado this open ing statement this case is based upon th idea that somewhere the character of the plaintiff has been labeled libeled libe led generally men of high minded boblo character can not be injured by the shafts of criticism tha father of his country was criticized criticised and held UP to ridicule webster one of the greatest of statesmen was assailed jackson whom we all believe to bo honest was attacked lincoln was maligned cleveland was vilified bryan the leader of a great faction of a gibat party has been held up to ridicule but we never hear of any of these men suing tor libel they have never asserted that the assaults against them have been an injury to their characters As a general thing it is the most unworthy who suo for libel I 1 recall one instance in detroit where a man sued a paper tor libel tho claim being that he had certain connection with a murder case when the trial was ended the charges wore not only proved but the plaintiff was indicted and only by the vote of ono juror escaped a verdict of murder in the first debiec 1 I am the last man on earth that would defend an assault upon a good mans character I 1 believe that it has a value higher than the goods of tho world and the person unjustly assailed is entitled to secure damages but it is best to ascertain whether or not the statements and criticisms made are true jones says he has been injured in his character to the extent of the court has given you the legal definition of the difference between character and reputation it has been stated in another form character is what a man really is reputation is what he is believed to be there is much truth in judge powers statement that high minded men seldom institute libel proceedings the narrow man is the one most sensitive to newspaper criticism and disposed to appeal to the law for a defense many libel actions are brought for no other purpose than to serve as a reply to an attack that is justifiable and can not bo success fully answered in the public forum there are those who have been unjustly criticized criticised we must admit and there are newspapers that are censurable tor their unwarranted abuse but in a majority of cases those offended are guilty of all that Is charged |
