The Press: Reynolds v. Pegler

Westbrook Pegler, the terrible-tempered columnist, had a task in prospect when he took the stand in a Manhattan court. His job was to prove that Journalist Quentin Reynolds, who is suing him and two Hearst corporations for $500,000 libel damages, was a nudist and a coward, as Pegler had written in a 1949 column (TIME, May 24 et seq.). Reynolds also charged that the column implied he was proCommunist. Last week, under cross-examination by Louis Nizer, Reynolds' attorney, Pegler cried indignantly: "You just don't know how to examine!" But it was soon plain...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!