Moral Victory

A favorite boast of fiery Publisher Nelson Rounsevell of the Panama American is that, in the course of eight arrests for libel, he has been cleared every time, at a total expenditure of $3.75.

Fortnight ago the self-styled "rambler and gambler" found himself again in court on a charge of criminal libel. The charge: that an epidemic of suicides at a nearby Army post had led him to compare that post's commander to Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler. By direction of the court, Publisher Rounsevell was acquitted (TIME, Sept. 30). Last week Defendant Rounsevell went on trial again-this time for an editorial stating that the commanding general of the Canal Department was incompetent to investigate his subordinates. The prosecution demanded that an example be made to prevent "future sadistic libels." The jury agreed. When the court sentenced him to pay $500 or spend 90 days in jail, Publisher Rounsevell's face clouded. It brightened quickly when the court suspended sentence, put Publisher Rounsevell on a year's probation. With three other libel counts against him almost sure to be dropped, "N. R." could look with satisfaction upon a moral victory and a clean slate.

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