Here is the second part of that Bible Students Monthly which dealt with the Miracle Wheat. This is obviously Rutherford's style of writing. I placed in bold only a few things that caught my eye:
"The articles published by it relative to "miracle" wheat and Pastor Russell's alleged connection therewith, have been so false and libelous that Pastor Russell, on the advice of his attorneys, has sued "The Eagle" for libel claiming $100,000 damages."
This shows that Rutherford was heavily involved in this. Russell sued for libel, meaning that that what was claimed needed to be shown to be FALSE in order for the case to be won. If Rutherford didn't know that there was that condition in order to win a libel case in the US, then he was a either a really bad lawyer, or he was delusional. Probably both.
"Pastor Russell,' and is recognized and addressed by such title, he being the leader, teacher and Pastor of thousands of Christian people who reside throughout said countries"
Isn't Jesus supposed to be the leader of the congregation? The BSM explicitly said that Russell was the leader.
"plaintiff has borne a high reputation for honesty, integrity, fair-dealing and truthfulness, and of being an honest and fearless preacher of the Gospel of truth"
Right... Russell was NOT an honest man... and neither was Rutherford.
"Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a religious corporation, and President of the Peoples Pulpit Association, also a religious corporation, both of which said corporations are engaged"
Granted, "religious corporations" are non-profit, but... the Watch Tower is truly a "business corporation" disguised as a religion.
"six million volumes of which have been sold and placed in the hands of the people throughout the United States and foreign countries, which books are sold and distribbuted [sic] by the aforesaid religious corporations of which plaintiff is the President;"
A religious corporation that sells books... sounds like a business to me!
"that the good name, reputation and moral standing of plaintiff are absolutely essential to the proper and successful promulgation of the Gospel in the manner adopted and used by him as aforesaid;"
That's the real reason for the suit. Rephrased: "Shut up! You're hurting the business!"
"has received through the mails, insulting and insinuating letters and writings by reason thereof and has been seriously injured in his peace of mind and has been grievously disturbed and his feelings injured and has been held up to public ridicule and scorn, as a result of all of which plaintiff has suffered injury to his reputation, good name, fame and standing, all to his damage in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars.""
Awww... poor baby! People are upset that you are selling a fraudulent product for exhorbitant prices, and that hurts your feelings. So much so, that you are suing for $2.5M in 2016 dollars. I guess Russell's feelings and reputation are that precious...
Here is the complete article:
BSM Vol. 3 No.11
BROOKLYN EAGLE SUED FOR $100,000.00
PASTOR RUSSELL APPEALS TO THE COURTS
SEEKS REDRESS FOR ALLEGED CONTINUOUS LIBEL
BY "THE EAGLE." - SEEKS TO DEFEND HIS HONORABLE NAME. - THE BROOKLYN
ACADEMY OF MUSIC INSUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE VAST THRONG DESIROUS OF
HEARING THE TABERNACLE PASTOR JUST PRIOR TO HIS SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
SHORTLY AFTER PASTOR RUSSELL removed to
Brooklyn, "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle," for some unknown reason and
without excuse, manifested an antipathy toward him. From time to time it has
published scurrilous articles against him, the virility of which has increased
to such an extent that further forbearance with this paper "has ceased to
be a virtue."
At the request of "The Eagle's"
representatives Pastor Russell, and those connected with him in his work, have
on several occasions furnished "The Eagle" with information
concerning the nature and character of said work, but the same has been either
ignored or so garbled by "The Eagle" as to make him and his work
appear ridiculous, tending to hold him up to public contempt. The articles
published by it relative to "miracle" wheat and Pastor Russell's
alleged connection therewith, have been so false and libelous that Pastor
Russell, on the advice of his attorneys, has sued "The Eagle" for
libel claiming $100,000 damages.
THE COMPLAINT
The complaint made by the plaintiff through his attorneys, after setting forth
that the defendant is a domestic corporation and has a large general circulation
in New York and elsewhere, further says:
"SECOND: That at the time of the publication hereinafter mentioned
plaintiff was and still is, a resident of said Borough of Brooklyn, City of New
York, and for more than thirty years last past, and at all the times
herein-after mentioned, plaintiff has been and still is, engaged in preaching
the Gospel to the people of the United States of America and Europe and
elsewhere; that he is now and for some time past has been, the regularly
elected Pastor of a large congregation of Christians at the Brooklyn
Tabernacle, of the Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York, to whom he preaches
at regular intervals and whom he serves as Pastor, having assistants who
represent him in his absence; that he is also, and for some time has been, the
regularly elected Pastor of a large congregation of Christian people at the
London Tabernacle, of London, England, whom he serves as Pastor, and to whom he
preaches at stated intervals, having assistants there to represent him during
his absence from said congregation, and that he is and for several years past
has been, popularly and favorably known throughout the United States of America
and Europe and other countries as 'Pastor Russell,' and is recognized and
addressed by such title, he being the leader, teacher and Pastor of thousands
of Christian people who reside throughout said countries; that for many years past
plaintiff has been and now is, the Editor of a Religious Journal, known as 'The
Watch Tower,' which is published twice each month and circulated throughout the
United States, Canada and European countries and is read by thousands of
Christian people in said countries; that his sermons are published each week in
a large number of newspapers throughout the United States, Canada, Great
Britain and Australia, and have been so published for a long space of time, and
as such minister of the Gospel, at the times hereinafter mentioned, and long
prior thereto, plaintiff has borne a high reputation for honesty, integrity,
fair-dealing and truthfulness, and of being an honest and fearless preacher of
the Gospel of truth as set forth in the Holy Scriptures, and has always enjoyed
the respect and confidence of the people in his own community and in the
community at large, wherever his sermons have been heard or read; that he is
and for many years past has been, the President of the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society, a religious corporation, and President of the Peoples Pulpit
Association, also a religious corporation, both of which said corporations are
engaged in spreading the Gospel and generally in religious and philanthropic
work for the betterment of mankind, and which said religious corporations receive
their support, both moral and financial, from Christian people living
throughout the United States and Canada; that for some years past plaintiff has
regularly written for periodicals and Magazines, religious articles dealing
with Biblical questions which have been published throughout the United States;
that plaintiff is the author of a certain series of religious works or books,
published in six volumes, and which are known as "Studies in the Scriptures,"
a large quantity, to wit: six million volumes of which have been sold and
placed in the hands of the people throughout the United States and foreign countries,
which books are sold and distribbuted [sic] by the aforesaid religious corporations
of which plaintiff is the President; that the good name, reputation and moral
standing of plaintiff are absolutely essential to the proper and successful
promulgation of the Gospel in the manner adopted and used by him as aforesaid;
that all of his publications, compositions and writings aforesaid have been
devoted exclusively to religious questions and doctrines; that during the
period of time herein mentioned he has given, and is now giving, all of his
time, energy, influence and strength to the preaching of the Gospel, both
orally and by the printed page, etc.
"THIRD: That on, prior and subsequent
to the 23rd day of September, 1911. the defendant at divers [sic] times,
published in its said newspaper, 'The Brooklyn Daily Eagle,' cerain [sic]
articles concerning the sale of a certain seed wheat, and that the plaintiff
was directly interested in the sale of 'Miracle Wheat' and derived a personal
advantage therefrom.
"FOURTH: That prior and subsequent to
the 23rd day of September, 1911, the defendant at divers times published in its
said newspaper, 'The Brooklyn Daily Eagle,' certain articles and cartoons or
pictures concerning the conduct, management and existing conditions of a
certain Bank in said City of New York known as the Union Bank, in which said
articles it was charged or intimated that the directors, officers, managers or
persons in some way connected with said Union Bank had violated their
obligations to the depositors and patrons of said Bank and that said directors,
officers, managers or persons in some way connected therewith, were guilty of a
violation of the laws of the State of New York (in that they had defrauded the
depositors and patrons of said Union Bank) and were criminally liable to
prosecution for such misconduct, and that an investigation in-to the affairs of
said Bank was being conducted, and that the District' Attorney of the County of
Kings would present and had presented the facts concerning said Union Bank to
the Grand Jury of Kings County, and that it was rumored that said Grand Jury
had returned five indictments in connection with the affairs of said Bank for
some criminal offense connected with the management of said Bank, and its
affairs had become so malodorous that the defendant, in its said newspaper,
named and designated said Union Bank as the 'Onion Bank.'
"FIFTH: That on the 23rd day of
September, 1911, and in the same issue of its said newspaper which contained an
article concerning the official' investigation into the affairs of said Union
Bank, aforesaid, the defendant, contriving and fraudulently intending to injure
the plaintiff in his good name, fame and reputation, maliciously composed,
printed, published and circulated of and concerning the plaintiff, a certain
picture, drawing, photograph or cartoon, with inscriptions thereon, together
with a certain article and words in connection therewith, in its said
newspaper, 'The Brooklyn Daily Eagle,' so published and circulated throughout
the Borough of Brooklyn, City and State of New York, and other places
throughout the world.”
Then follows a copy of the Cartoon and
publication.
"SIXTH: That the building shown in the
picture, photograph, drawing or cartoon, aforesaid, is intended to represent
and does represent the said Union Bank Building, and the words across the top
of the door, to wit—'Onion Bank,' represent and were intended by defendant to
represent said Union Bank; that the figure of the man standing in the door of
said building, as represented and shown upon said picture, photograph, drawing
or cartoon, represents and was intended by defendant to represent, some
director or officer or person connected with said Union Bank calling out to an
old man who appears In the street, as shown by said cartoon or picture; that
the figure of said old man, as shown on said picture, photograph, drawing or
cartoon, and which appears therefrom to be in the street in close proximity to
said Union Bank, represents and was intended by defendant to represent the
plaintiff herein, who, in said picture, photograph, drawing, cartoon or
caricature, is represented as going through the streets carrying in his hand a
package of 'Miracle Wheat,' and as a 'street hawker' crying out his wares, or
goods for sale; and the words, 'You're wasting your time, come on in here,'
appearing on said picture, photograph, drawing or cartoon, represented and were
intended by defendant to represent some officer of said Union Bank, or some person
connected with said Bank (who was engaged in defrauding its depositors and
patrons), calling to and inviting plaintiff to cease selling wheat and come on
in the bank and join others in defrauding its depositors and patrons, that his,
plaintiff's time could be much better employed in said Bank and greater returns
could be realized by plaintiff in engaging with those in the Bank in
'fleecing,' cheating and defrauding its patrons and depositiors [sic]; that the
words, 'Easy Money Puzzle,' appearing on said picture, photograph, drawing or
cartoon, were Intended by defendant to represent and do represent that both
plaintiff and said Union Bank directors and officers were engaged in an unrighteous
and unlawful scheme or business, and that plaintiff by misrepresentations,
fraud and deception was obtaining 'easy money' or dishonest Money or tainted
money from the people; that in connection with said picture, photograph,
drawing or cartoon appear the following printed article or words: 'If Pastor
Russell (meaning plaintiff) can get' a dollar ,a pound for 'Miracle Wheat,'
what could he (meaning plaintiff) have got for Miracle stocks and bonds as a director
of the old Union Bank'; that by said entire drawing, caricature, cartoon,
picture and print, and the words printed in connection therewith and as a part
thereof, defendant meant and intended to show and charge, and did represent and
charge, and it was so understood by those who saw it, that plaintiff as a
Minister of the Gospel, as a Pastor of Religious congregations of Christian
people, was selling said 'Miracle Wheat' and as a 'street hawker' was going
about the streets selling the same at a large price, and was thereby defrauding
the people and by the use of a fraudulent scheme, trick or misrepresentation
plaintiff was wrongfully obtaining from the people, in an easy, slick, deceptive
and fraudulent manner, large sums of money for his own personal gain, and that
plaintiff, because of his cunning and ability to manipulate a dishonest scheme
enabling him to sell wheat at one dollar per pound, was wasting his time in so
selling wheat when he might associate himself with dishonest men and engage in
the fraudulent sale of stocks and bonds and thereby reap a far greater amount
of dishonest money, and that if he, plaintiff, as the Pastor of a congregation
of Christian people could fraudulently induce people to pay one dollar per
pound for Miracle Wheat, he would succeed much better in engaging himself with
a number of criminals in inducing the people to buy fraudulent stocks and
bonds.
"SEVENTH: That the statements and representations
made, and attempted to be made and conveyed by said picture, drawing,
caricature, cartoon or print and by various inscriptions that appear thereon,
and by said words, article or reading matter published in connection therewith
and as a part thereof, as aforesaid, were and are wholly false and were
printed, edited, composed and published by the defendant maliciously and with a
wrongful intent of injuring the plaintiff in his good name, fame and reputation
and in his professional career as a Minister of the Gospel.
"EIGHTH: That by reason of the
foregoing, the plaintiff has been brought into scandal and reproach and has
been held up to odium, scandal, disgrace and contempt among his neighbors,
friends and the readers of his Journal, books and other writings and among his
parishoners [sic] and members of his congregations, as well as his business and
professional reputation as President of the Religious Societies aforesaid, and
has received through the mails, insulting and insinuating letters and writings
by reason thereof and has been seriously injured in his peace of mind and has
been grievously disturbed and his feelings injured and has been held up to
public ridicule and scorn, as a result of all of which plaintiff has suffered
injury to his reputation, good name, fame and standing, all to his damage in
the sum of one hundred thousand dollars."
