Evening Times Republican

Libel suits aggregating $200,000 Filed Against Prominent Wealthy Citizens.
Action Outgrowth of Ditch Contract Awards
Plaintiffs Are Members of Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Acting As Individuals—Suits Based On Alleged Statements That Board Profited $25,000.
Special to Times-Republican.
Council Bluffs, May 30.—Original notices in damage suits aggregating $200,000 have been filed in district court and served against Frank Collard, J. M. Tullen, J. D. Harris and George B. Clark, wealthy and prominent citizens of Oakland, Iowa, by the members of the Pottawattamie county board of supervisors. The actions are for alleged slander and libel. The plaintiffs are suing as individuals and not as officials. The plaintiffs are Allan Bullis, of Griswold; Felix Setz, of Oakland; T. J. Johns, of Oakland; W. F. Baken, of Council Bluffs, and G. W. Spencer, of Neola. Each of the plaintiffs has sued for $10,000 against each of the defendants.
While the original notices do not disclose the exact nature of the alleged slander and libel, it is learned that the basis of the action is alleged statements of the defendants charging that the plaintiffs, in awarding a ditch contract, profited to the extent of $25,000.
Letters are said to be in existence which it is claimed the plaintiffs will introduce as evidence sustaining their claims for damages. A formidable array of attorneys has been engaged in the case already and, owing to the sensational nature of the charges and the prominence of the people identified in the suit, the case will attract much attention and has already aroused intense interest.