Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-07
THE LEDGER DENOUNCED IN
TEXAS,
The Press and Bar Uuik in Express
ing their Opinion Of the Con
temptible Sheet"
Bat Discover Several Other Papers as
q Bad Even in their Own State.

nance in the Currie case at Marshall,
of stirring such a breeze and invoking
so much ~displeasure. Great imdigna-
ton has been expressed toward this
Journal but no opinion has been ex-
pressed as to whether Currie will be
hung after the next term of the court,
or turned loose on bail. The Dallas
Herald, published over two hundred
miles from Masshall, aud therefore
having no local interest in the matter,
says, THE italics are ours
The continuance of the Currie case
was not surprising. Ii was fully ex-
pected, especially i w. Barrymore or
Mss GmReaS. for he STATE, dD-
pfarod IN court. There appears to be
a law, OF at least it is the practice Of
the courts Of Texas. to give the pris-
Oner the benefit of one continuance.
They all get it when they ask for it.
The propriety of such a law is another
question.
We are therefore left to infer that
if both Mr.. Barrymore and Miss
Oummens had failed to appear at the
trial it would have proceeded and no
allusion would have been made to alb
sent witnesses for the defense. The
Marshall Tri- Week. Herald of the
LIST says
. The law IS very plain, and the Judge,
on a first continuance, has no election
in the matter, when what is termed a
proper showing is made. 1t occurs to
US the propriety of the law in such a
case is obvious.
This is, no doubt, obvious to Currie
and the Herald. But if the law is so
plain, and it was a ~foregone eonclu-
sion that Currie must have a continu-
anee, why was not poor Barrymore
notified Of the fact that he might have
been spared a weary ride of fifteen
hundred miles and back? 1t would
seem that the blood of the murdered
Porter is forgotten by the press and
bar Of Marshall, that Currie is an OBJ
ject Of genuine sympathy entitled to a
continuance as an act Of courtesy to a
slandered gentleman, if not under
legal right, and hat the Memphis
LEDGER is to be put on trial as the
only offender known to that law-abid-
ing community. Here is another ex-
tract from the Herald in an article
headed:
WHAT ARE We TO THINK OF SUCH
JOURNALISM
Some Of our citizens are exercised
and indignant over an editorial article
that appeared a few days ago in a con-
temptible sheet published in the city
OF Memphis, entitled the PUBLIC
LEDGER. II will be noticed, in this
connection, that a bar meeting was
called for yesterday morning to con-
slider it. and to rebuke the Injustice
and malignity that characterizes il, as
well as to defend the character and
ability Of one Of the purest and best
judges in our State.
What We have to say about this
matter is brief. When. a week or
two ago, the Memphis Appeal. a paper
Of responsibility and character. and
possessing a national reputation, pub
lished an article, Of coNrse more
refaed than that Of the LEDGER. but
exceedingly unjust and uncalled for.
in reference to the Currie murder
case, and calculated to do Marshall
and Texas greater harm, II tcas repuJ-
Hshed by many Of the papers in the
State, without one word Of common
tary or rebuke except what promptly
appeared in the Herald.
The Herald, after quoting from the
LEDGER and then saying, Judge
Booty did no more than what he was
bound in duty to do, not only accord
ing to the laws Of Texas, but Of any
other State in which the civil law pre-.
walls. continues as follows:
Since writing the foregoing wp no.
tice similar articles to that Of the
Appeal and LEDGER 10 the st. Louis
Republican and the New Orleans
Times. That of the Times is remark
able for rs misrepresentation, its SEN
s%ational abuse Of Texas, and its want
Of knowledge Of facts, not only Ia
relation 70 this case, but the efforts
made in Texas to put down crime and
bring offenders to justice. What Is
remarkable, the Galcesion Ners re-
pabiishes With0m one Eae Of correc.
lion or commentary the article o. .bf
Times. That these Incorporate re-
marks Of public jouTBals arc caused
from ignorance Of the true condition
Of things in this State is evident, but
It Is certainly strange that papers Of
character, aud conducted BY men Of
experience, should manifest SO little
discretion.
SO it seems that the press generally
has gone wrong, but nevertheless the
LEDGER is the chief offender. The
bar Meeting was held and proceeded
unanimously to dnaounaatbc Memphi,
LEDGER and the New Orleans Time.
to lndorse the action of the Circuit
Judge, and to resolve that Barrymor,
would be as safe in Marshall as IN
Wallask's Theater or elsewhere. etc.
etc. all Of which appeared in yester.
days Appeal. We notice that onl,
the Appeal, the Marshall papers. N,
New Orleans Democrat. tho st. Leui,
Republican, aud the Loulsyill,