Historic newspaper the subject of two lawsuits

Charleston, S.C.(AP)--Two groups in Charleston are fighting over <br>the ownership of an old newspaper. <br> <p> An August 1776 of the South Carolina and American General <br>Gazette is locked in a vault

Wednesday, September 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Charleston, S.C.(AP)--Two groups in Charleston are fighting over
the ownership of an old newspaper.

An August 1776 of the South Carolina and American General
Gazette is locked in a vault in New York while judges in two states
try to resolve the dispute.

The August Second to 14th edition was the only South Carolina
newspaper to print the full text of the Declaration of Independence
at the time it was written.

The Post and Courier Foundation bought the paper in May in an
auction at Christie's in New York. The foundation is a nonprofit
corporation created by The Charleston Post and Courier newspaper.

The Charleston Library Society has now sued Christie's, the
newspaper foundation and the Virginia newspaper dealer who sold the
paper. The library society says stains on the newspaper identify it
as part of the society's collection.

The Virginia owner has sued the library society, Christie's and
an agent for the newspaper foundation, saying his reputation has
been damaged.