Another libel action has been lodged against the Deutsche Zeitung, American Nazi organ published here, it was learned yesterday. Dr. Kurt Rosenfeld, former Prussian Minister of Justice who has been a refugee from Hitler’s administration, calims damages of $100,000.
The plaintiff, who served the defendant corporation with a summons last Friday, will have as his counsel Arthur Garfield Hays, noted for his activities in Nazi affairs as counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. The defendant company has been given twenty days in which to answer the summons in Supreme Court.
Another suit for criminal libel, lodged by former Magistrate Joseph Goldstein of Brooklyn, is still in court. This case, as well as Rosenfeld’s, has named as defendants William L. McLaughlin, vice-president of the D. Z. Corporation and managing editor of the English language supplement of the Deutsche Zeitung; Carl S. Voelcker, president of the concern, and Walter Kappe, editor of the Deutsche Zeitung.
According to the complaints, both alleged libels appeared in the July 7 edition of the Deutsche Zeitung.
In response to questions, McLaughlin, one of the defendants, yesterday admitted that the action had been brought by Rosenfeld. He was asked whether he intended to fight the case.
“Most certainly,” responded McLaughlin.
“There is no possibility of a settlement?” he was asked.
“Most certainly not,” replied the managing editor.
Dr. Rosenfeld proved to be star witness at the Inquiry Commission on Nazi Affairs, an informal group of celebrated American barristers who heard testimony here some weeks ago on atrocities committed against Jews and others in Germany.
Concerning the inquiry, McLaughlin yesterday volunteered the information that “Rosenfeld and the others were merely a bunch of straw men,” and that “the whole thing was done with mirrors.”
It is learned that during the last two weeks a veritable windfall of libel actions has suddenly descended on the shoulders of the Deutsche Zeitung owners and operators, the two serious suits being the only ones encountered by the aggressive and outspoken journal during its entire existence. It is almost seven months old.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
