New-York tribune., 1874-07-09
FALSEHOOD IN TIE DAILY PRESS.
MR.. PARTON STATES HIS CASE.

SIR: am glad to learn from The TRIBUNE
OF July that the gentleman VINO represented IL at the
Morristown hanging, in May, 1873. did not particl
pate in the wild dJng5 OF the reporters described by me
in HarperS Mugd-He for the present month II Is "ha
1 should have expected from member OF your corps
and am more than willing to believe that II In any
particular his report incorrect the error was unin
tentional | congratulate him his teetotal habits,
which gave him a quiet nights sleep at his landlords
private residence, away from the noise OF Whatever
may have been going at the hotel confess do not
understand how anything Of the size OF soap-boX
could have reoted the discrepancy between Two ropes
that would not meet by foot and had to DC united
but this, presume, Is OWING TO hy never hsFlug seen
the apparatus Of hanging
Permit me to say that took extraordinary pains to
get the truth concerning this affair. Though hearu
pretty full accounts Of tho exploits Of some OF
the reporters few days after the execution, Whlch
alone would have justified me in relating the story for
any ordinary purpose yet, before writing upon II,
went to Morrstown and spent two days there, having
no business in that region except to get the dcs IN
question fully and exactly. believe did get them
fully and exactly Besides taking the details down III
writing from the lips OF an experienced journalist VINO
represented Associated at the execution had
before me the geOns report the account forwarded
TO the Associated Press and the leading portions OF the
reports in as many II newspapers The variations
given in several New-Jersey papers, the one believe,
in The Neo York Herald the dispatch OF the Asso-
ciated Press accorded with my private Information.
Thus fortified and furnished, felt myself justified In
giving publicity to tho story as good
and fair illustration of the manner in which the tre-
mendous engine Of the daily press may be used for the
gratifying of private pque. There was also suspicious
similarity of phrase in the reports OF some OF the papers
which much confirmed the charge Of collusion. In fact
and have not the slightest doubt Oh the SUD
Bnt as have spent 20 years OF my life IN laboriousy
sitting truth from falsehood, and in guarding against
the influence OF personal and party bias, and having
frequently fallen into error in spite OF my utmost pains
am aware that In this instance also may have been
led astray. Ibeleye that have not been.
The editorial which accompanied Mr.. Milcs's card
gave very great surprise. There are few things
like better 10 see than powerful chef standing by and
worhly defending an Injured member Oh MS stan You
could have done this without committing an outrage
another person. which, however, must attribute TO
your misappTehendlng the purpose OF my article That
purpose TO defend rather than accuse the press
showing the immense and varied difficulties in the way
Of ascertainng TRUTH and the great number OF obstacles
InerpOSG themselves 70 Its Tree uteftnce
has been ascertained mentioned no Names made no
vailed references ana wrote IN perfect charity aud good
hunOr. Nor viii now characterize your article
commit the error which most regret In THE
TRIBUNE, and which alone prevents its being
not possess the facility OF becoming hostile at
menps notice 10 "a person OF whom l never before
thought or spoke except with friendly feeling which
supposed was reciprocated prefer to think that you
wrote under complete misapprehension or tho facts
may Just observe that your editorial affords an ex-
ample Of one or the ways In which asehoOd gets into
the daily press In your eagerness TO say things very
dsagreeabe you make along list OF incorrect assertions
t Is not the truth that Vhaye ever called Hamilton half
a Knaye, was ever unmndfu of his moral superiority
upon the whole, 10 his rival al the NewIOrk bar II Is
truth that have ever spoken or John Adams
Mr. Jay except with the very great respect which feel
for them. did indeed most heartily approve Gen. But
lers gallant attempt 70 raise the compensation Of mem
beTs Of Congress, the Cabinet, and other official
persons resident in Washington, because L believe
that the Government should pay the market price
for all the and commodities It wants-from barrel
Of salt to lawyer fit to be Chief Justice: And this
the reason why deplored the error OF judgment
which has led, fear TO long postponement OF
measure so essential 70 the elevation OF the public
service But IL not the truth that regard those who
think otherwise as little better than the wicked Nor is
alude was performed with celebrity L Deyer perform
any literary task with CELEBRITY which Is the why
have always been compelled reluctantly To decline
your invitations TO contribute TO the columns OF TIE
TRIBUNE. All this catalogue OF otenses which you
make against me has scarcely any foundation in truth
and yet presume IN the warmth Of your indignation
against some imaginary injury you unconscious OF
the extent OF your departure from that exactness Of
statement which II Is SO easy to recommend but one OF
the hardest OF all things to practice. JAMES PARTON,
Nep6Ugp0rt, Mass July 8, 1874
MR.. PARTON'S WITNESS DOES NOT SUSTAIN HIM,
To me Edftor OF The Trtoune.
SIR: A card from Mr.. George E. Miles. in
reply to Mr.. Parton's article on Falsehood In the
Daily Press" which appeared in the July number OF
HGrper's Magazine Is published in today's TRIBUNE
In this card Mr. Miles defends the reporters and tells
anew his version OF the hanging OF Lusignani ut Morris
town, May Is, 1873.
have 20 reports OF that execution before me- which
were sent TO different papers, and all are incorrect
some almost entirely SO. the rest mainly. None OF
them agree even IN important particulars For in
stance report states that the drop fell exactly 10
minutes after IL. Another that it was exactly As min.
utes after. Again. one says that after the body de-
scended from the fall che began those repulsve strug
giles Of agony which are shocking to behold" Another
states that he died very easily, &c.
deem 1t due to the public, especially those who were
in any manner interested In or connected with that
execution that alcorect statement OF facts should now
be published. was OF the physicians appointed by
the authorities TO witness the execution and certify
the death OF the criminal. l entered the cell OF the
condemned man with the Sheriff and the other officials
remained during the preparations for the procession to
tho galows, walked Immediately behind the italian,
and In the yard stood Immediately In front and within
SIX feet of him. thus hayngkan uninterrupted view Of
the entire proceedings.
The prisoner certainly under great excitement
amounting almost 10 ecstasy but his conduct does
not arcct the question al issue shall not ~ into par
ticulars concerning it.
lie was placed under the rope, and the moose was
strai gened up TO ascertain II any change had taken
place In the rope since early morning Thls rope which
had once before at least served the purpose
been slowed away In upper IN tho courthouse
for several years and had consequently become thor
olgAA afY Tlo drop Was arranged qp the alrpoan AZ