The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-21
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The IllBEI
THE EXPERIENCES On TlSl1 PITTS
BURGH PREse tA f',iI F4r-
LING WITH ADtA n
what ithas cSs iIN AsIN h
As an Ni|''
during tho p
dropped into odi morning
and evening siarlns 70 9ae.hew
they were comI and als1 b earn
how much they hpyA suffered By The liz
bel law. sg =
The libel law is generally supposed to
be the skeleton which inhabits every
newspaper msn's closet, and boldly
stalks forth into the sanctum sanctorum
every time an editor wrestles with po-
litiCal scoundfel or reporter pencils a
news itemin which the reputation of
some social saint is called into question.
1t is also Thought by some of the less en-.
lghtened ones that this same skeleton
is the liend, Of fends, which is the bane
of every journalists existence; that it
invades the editorial room at all times
and with demohicsl grin points its
ID . u . T.
bony finger to the manuscript before the
writer, and in a ghost.like tone utters
that one word libel The poor editor is
supposed to start at the ominous warn
ings, drop bis pencil, and with every
hair standing on end hastily review his
half.fnished article, erase word here,
interline there, kill every positive asser-
ton and ring in "it is alleged" The
skeleton is furthermore not supposed to
go off duty until the forms go to press,
but should it become weary of so much
"proof reading" and fall asleep, there is
another skeleton in "shyster's" office
on Grant street who never fails to recti-
fy all mistakes.
But this is not so. The libel law has
no terrors for the journalist who knows
his duty and does it.
The Leader has been frequently sued
for libel; so have the Commercial Ga.
zette, Dispatch, Post, Chronicle and
Freiheits Freund, and this is the expe
rience Of each Of the above journals, as
given to the reporter by the proprietors
of the papers themselves. .I
As confessions are in order the Leader
is willing to take the stand first. With
due humility it admits having its fair
share of libel suits, Of which the follow
ing ia short synopsis. While yet in its
infancy an item found its way into these
columns exposing female in Allegheny,
who bad a very bad reputation. This
woman, seeing chance to make few
dollars, ,broughta suit fordamages, an d the
Leader, knowing fultwell that it had told
the truth, and that the greater the truth
the greater the libel, compromised by
paying the plaintiff 5000. The expert.
ence, however, was well worth the
money, for the damsel took great pride
in telling her friends how she had
scooped the Leader, which was the
means of several other cases against
other papers being raked up. This was
lesson which established a precedent
for dealing in other cases which was,
never under any circumstances to com.
promise, but always rather trust for JUS
tice from ajury of its peers, and this has
been the firm rule in this office ever
since and is likely to remain 80. Another
case was a man and his wife, who kept
disreputable house. The case hung in
the courts for over a year, and ended by
the Leader Publishing company paying
the costs. The celebrated Ben Morgan
case resulted in fine of $50 being i'm
posed on each member of this company.
The suit grew out of the publication of
paid local, during the heat of political
campaign in which Mr.. Morgan was
candidate tor mayor .sr .a.sa
The case of s. I. Meller vs.. the Leader
Publishing company resulted in hne of
six and quarter cents imposed on the
defendants and the plaintiff paJ the
costs. The grounds of this suit was the
publication of an item stating that
Meller, who has,an employment agency
had agreed to find large number of
workmen employment, and failed to do
30, but instead had collected dollar
each from them. .t.a
Another suit was brought by South
Side butcher, who made many threats,
wished to compromise, ETC., but finally,
after studying over the matter for year
or 80, dropped the case. The ibelous
item in this case alleged that the butch
er had sold veal which was under three
weeks old when killed, and that a whole
family had been made sick by eating
thereof. Aside from the suits meltion-
ed the usual number have been threat.
ened, but never came TO anything, The
total sum Of money paid in consequence
by the Leader company will reach some-
where between three and four hundred
dollars. The experience Of this paper,
has been that all good, honest PERSONS
who have had occasion to feel aggrieYed
at statements made in relation TO them
in these columns, were With one excep.
tion,i on having the matter explained,
satisfied with Rcorrection, which was al
ways cheeriully accorded whenever an
incorrect statement was found to have
been made. 90
sour experience" said Nj. Reed, of
the Com. Gaz ''is this: We have been
sued a number of times for libel, but
have the FIRST dollar to pay to the plain
tiff in a case yet; we have compromised
u a l. ...sa. 4 IL !