Smurthwaite v. News Publishing Co.

In April, 1898, the plaintiff, who was then mayor of Manistee, was a candidate for re-election. The campaign engendered a good deal of feeling. It was claimed that certain of the citizens of Manistee desired to sell to the city the plant owned by a waterworks company for a large price. The question of increased valuation of property was also made an issue. It was claimed the ticket with which plaintiff was affiliated represented one side of these questions, and that the defendant company was controlled by the men who represented the other side of the controversy. The plaintiff had access to…