The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-03-31
Reporters and Reporting.

"A CoHpetttl3H VI ItpOleeIol 0f : eACluSiFC
bits of local news is as energetic in England
as 1t is in this country In one instance
reporter had very nearly got into trouble by
his zeal He lived mile or so out of town.
and one side of the road. for "a considerable
part Of the way, was thick grove. AS he.
was returning home late one night, after hav-
ing seen the paper to press, he observed that
one of the trees, near the roadside, had an
unusual appearance. Going within the fence
he discovered that the body of man was
suspended from one of the branches. Hur-
riedly cutting it down. he drew the body into
a part of the grove where the underground
was thick, intending to conceal it. This done,
he went home Next morning he was taken
into custody on a charge Of wilful murder,
and brought before magistrate. A game
keeper, going through the wood at early day
light, had discovered the body in its place of
concealment and some other person remem,
bered that, about midnight he had seen the
reporter issue from the grove. The case was
suspicious constable, searching the
pockets of the dead man, discovered written
statement, containing his name and place of
abode, and declaring that domestic misfortune
resolved to commit suicide Of course, the
reporter was discharged His explanation
was to the effect that finding such a fine bit of
+" local" as this too late for his own paper, he
had concealed the corpse in order that the
rival journal, which was to appear on the
next day, should not profit by tie news But
for the suicides eonfession,a pretty strong
case of circumstantial evidence might have
been made to the peril of the knight of the
pen. Another of this cla.s entered the
editorial room in an excited manner and
rapid steps "A capital fatal accident" he
exclaimed "About ten minutes ago my
mother-in-law tumbled down stairs and broke
her neck l have desired them to say nothing
about it to the neighbors until the morning
so that we shall have it exclusively for our
paper" His heart was in his calling, IN
doubtedly.
A system of reporting cases before the
police magistrates has long been in vogue
among the daily morning papers in London
One gentleman of the press attended at each
Office, reported one or two striking cases each
day, ana taking sufficient number of copies
by the manifold process, sent one to each
morning journal. Only this particular re
porter was recognized by the magistrates and
by the newspapers. The payment was at the
rate Of three cents for each line of print, anc
no police news except what was supplied by
those reporters, SO often contemptuously called
penny-a- liners" was received by the sub
editor. Reports of little interest were mo-
inserted, and the pressure of parliamentary
or other news very often excluded even gooe
ones. This systcm, which continues (excep
that the Times has a reporter of its own a
each police office, relieved the newspaper!
from the heavy cost Of regular salared re
porters The average outlay was small, bu
when half dozen papers paid for the same
paragraphs, each "pennya liner contriyee
to earn a respectable income.
am cognizant, however of one instance
in which a London penny a-liner" showed
more sharpness than probity. 1t was in tht
autumn, dead season for the London press
when the political and fashionable and pro
fessional classes are "out Of town" A re
porter who had been called to the bar, but hat
Dever been employed there by any one, no
finding any news. resolved to make it. FL
invented dreadful murder, attended will
romantic and mysterious circumstances, ant
described it, very fully, as having taken plac
in remote suburban district, for which h
manufactured Saxon name He supple.
u additional details; gave evidence at the in