Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-27
WILMINGTON, DBL.
Friday Afternoon. Dec. AZ.
LAW AND FACTS IN NEWSPAPER LBE-

In Philadelphia, Mr.. Taylor, the city editor Of
the Press, was found guilty in Judge Paxson's
Court, on Tuesday, of publishing libel on David
H. Lane. The statements concerning him had
reference to the notorious "whiskey" business,
out Of which the attempted murder OF Detective
Brooks the actual assassination of Dougherty,
the trial and conviction Of Hugh Morrow, &C., 30.
proceeded, and it seems that the Press connected
Mr.. Lane who is a prominent local politician
more closely with that crowd" than even the
staid Charles francis Adams might have per-
nitted himself to be with the Cincinnati con-
clave.
In the trial OF the case, Mr.. Lane had SYM
pathetic advocate in the District Attorney, Col.
Mann, and Mr.. Taylor was ably defended by Hon.
b. H. Brewster. The trial was well fought, and
an exhaustive and admirable charge was deliv-
cred by Judge Paxson, whose rulings, as it
seems TO us, were impartial, discriminative, and
sound.
One OF the special features in the case, how
ever, to which our attention is called by an edi-
torial article in the Philadelphia Bulletin, is tho
apparent fact that Mr.. Taylor's publication was
not we'll supported by evidence Of truth. No
doubt, he believed it accurate, but the trouble
was that he seems to have been deceived. More
over, such a belief on his part, Judge Paxson
ruled, could not be made part Of the defence.
This is after ALL the vital point in the business
Of newspaper writer or editor In all things
accuracy is desirable, but in dealing with matters
which may be charged as ibelous, he must b
accurate. And this it is very difficult to be.
Nothing is more unstable and unreliable than
the current rumors and ayerments Of the public.
The errors in an ordinary verbal communication,
passed around among half dozen persons, are
as stupendous and wonderful as they are amuse-
ing. A good newspaper man knows that in or
der to have thoroughly reliable report he must
go to the highest sources Of information, and
depend for nothing upon testimony at second
hand.
Beyond this general inaccuracy, however. there
ia a still more dangerous ground for newspaper
work. This includes such intrigues, quarrels,
crimes, and demoralizatons, as those Of the
Whiskey Ring whoever they were-in Phil
adelphia. By the smell, 1t is easy to perceive
that something corrupt lies inside the " Ring,
but to indicate that this or that individual hides
it beneath his coat is exceedingly unsafe. AT
this point, the independent newspaper, earnest
for the public good, is embarrassed. The inter
ests it guards seem to demand that it should ex-
pose the corTuption-but howl On whose evi-
dence may it depend7 Partners in crime, and
companions in corruption may be false to each
other, but their statements to the outside world
are equally false. If a newspaper depends on
them for support in Court of Law, it, to use
the illustrations of our Philadelphia cotempo
rary, ventures out on thin ice, which is more
likely to break under it than to bear it safel!
out. In the words Of the Bulletin
when individuals or corporations, or abuse
or crimes are to be attacked, exposed, con
demned, the duty Of the journalist should b.
done without fear or favor Jn neoer loillou
fIcts. These facts must be sought for in sucl
places as they are likely to be found in. Bu
they must rest upon evidence which, when pro
duced will carry the confidence Of the public or
il needs be, of the Jury with it,
These are truths which it is well for the publ
tokeep in mind Unreasonable things are oftei
demanded of newspapers, when they are asked
TO pitch into matters concerning which moth
ing definite is known, and nothing reliable cal
be gathered. A prudent and conscientou
newspaper will always decline to undertake sucl
a iob