The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-04-23
A Serious and Outrageous Mistake,
Inexcusable Haste in Journalism.

We know what it is to get track OF an
item and hunt it down. But many times
when hunted down, it proves utterly
worthless, and we have our labor foI
our pains. Nevertheless, we prefer
such a result, to publishing idle, sensa-
6onal rumors, involving the characters
of individuals, rather than give them as
they come to us clothed in the glaring
colors of rumor.
Such was the case with us last week.
But such does not appear to have been
the case with the Port Clinton papers.
The same report reached us which
reached them, in regard to a reported
confession of murder committed 81
years ago. The character of the indi-
vidual who was reported to have made
the confession, WAS too well established
in this community to entitle the report
to any credence, and the more we sought
for any reliable data, the more we could
not find any. But we did meet with a
fiat denial that any such confession had
been made. All there is of it SO far as
we have been able to trace the matter is
that some man who had been overcome
with liquor, to such an extent that wher
he became sober he could not remember
any thing he had said while under the
influence of liquor, had told such story
to neighbor, who had told it to some
one else, until it assumed the character
that Mr.. Holcomb, on his death bed
had confessed to the murder of man
named Hopfnger 81 years ago, and
buried his body in the swamp. The
Port Clinton papers accepting these ru
mors as facts, published them as truths
thus violently assailing the character o.
a man otherwise above reproach.
relative of the man murdered 81 year.
ago, and who lives in the neighborhooC
of Port Clinton, hearing of these ru
mors came into this neighborhood las
week, to investigate them, but we lear1
that he returned home on Saturda,
without any information to verify tn
rumors. ~. rte.
While upon the subject we will ado
that 81 years ago there was a mysteriou
disappearance of a man named HOPPING
er, under circumstances that indicated
foul play, and man named DAME
Thorn, with whom he was known {,
have stopped was arrested on suspicion
of causing his disappearance. He wa
tried and acquitted, sufficient evidenc,
not having been adduced to prove hi
guilt. Notwithstanding his accquittal
public opinion condemned him, and h
came near being lynched. About tel
years ago Thorn died, but made no sig
to indicate his connection with Hfline
er's mysterious disappearance. The ru
NOR started as to the reported confess
ion OF Il. at once fixed upon him tn
murder of Hophnger, and the wind eal
ried it everywhere, but not everywher
did those hearing it stop to dissect
before giving it further publicity. Bu
few men who have attained the age c
Mr.. H., have been as universally r,
spected and admired for his many goo
qualities as Mr.. Holcomb, and it seem
a grevious wrong that such a rumc
should become current, at time whe
he is lying upon bed of sickness whic
may terminate in death.
Since the above was written we hes
that Mr., II. is recovering. He ma
make it lively for those Port Clinto
boys.
FURTHER DENIAL.
The Sandusky Register, it appear
repeats the story of the Port Olinto
papers, and adds that it had sent a re
porter who had confirmed the stories
but it further adds that since the col
fession Mr.. Holcumb is recovering an
now denies the story We opine this
the Registers reporter only went so ia
as to oonfrn the fact that such storie
were il eirdulation, but did not try t
eift the truth Of the same or reach thei
origin, Now the factis, tho story ha