The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-27
Improvement in Journalism Some of
Our Esteemed Contemporaries, the
Murder of Mrs. Hull, aud the MUIR
dprer COY.


1t has just occurred to some OF our es-
teemed contemporaries TO copy the follow
ing just and appropriate, but brief article
which appeared in this Journal last
Saturday
when Mrs wasilscoyered murdered, her hands
ued AMI her eet were tied. each side Of the
bed
who ever head Of the corpse Of murdered person
being found in this condition before
Dr. lULL her husband. IN his testimony. al the Coro-
ners inquest stated that lac in the habit OF tying
down IN bed cl0thes Sometimes lac tied them on both
sides OF his bed.
"rhi, strange. Who ever heard Of such thing
beiore'
There is nothing stranger In human lie--and
times IN deati-than the unAecountable condolences
We trust that we shall not be deemed vain
when we say that such general reproduc-
tion OF one Of THE suns carefully consid-
cred editorials may fairly be taken as evil
dence Of progress in journalism. 1t may be
said. to be sure, that its republication would
have been more timely on Monday than on
Wednesday; but no man is to be censurcd
for the natural slOwncss Of his own intellect.
One or two papers affect to carp at this
article since the discovery Of the real muir
derer. But this subsequent discovery Of
the murderer can have no bearing upon the
appropriateness Of the article Mt the time 1t
was printed. And we assert and maintain
now that it was entirely appropriate and
fair, and that the comments came within
the strictest construction Of the province Of
journalism, and that, in the view Of en-
lightened journalism, it was an imperative
duty TO make them.
Who did ever before hear OF n man tying
down his bed clothes on both sides Of his
bed? Who ever did before hear OF the
corpse OF a murdered woman being tied, one
foot to one side OF the bed and the other to
the other?
No one,
Then it was most extraordinary coinci-
| dence or course it did not in itself prove
any one guilty; but, according to Mr. JOHN
! l. DAVENPORT, not a bad authority on
crimes this was u circumstance worthy OF
note Mr.. DAVENPORT, as reported In the
| Tribune, said;
- close examination OF this led to no developments,
ami his bed next received the attention Of the officers
Here found that the sheet tied with stout
cord 10 the head OF the bed near the outer upper corner
part of an old string whch had been formerly used IN
tying the sheet found still fastened around OF
with the peculiar tying OF Mrs. HUlL-her limbs you will
rememher were not tied together ordinarily the case
IN binding person but were plnced rs to be tied to
tie sle rals'ses regarded as circumstances 10 be 'otel"
And we suppose 1t is 10 this remarkable
| coincidence that our esteemed contemporary,
the Erenipg Express, referred last night
when it said:
THE sudden discovery Of the crime, the mystery sur
rounding H. he suc,a' aroei dqtin other people ehd
seemed "a 10 arOng c,can.tiniai spnisnc,,n &C, &c.
1t is curious enough that journals-like
the Insignificant Mail, II it be journal
which condemn The SUN for such just re-
marks, called for by the circumstances ae
it has from time to time made, are the most
extravagant and fulsome in their eulogies
OF BALCH, the Boston reporter, for detect
ing the murderer And they seem to agree
with BALCH that it is necessary part OF
the province Of a reporter to be detective
From this view we entirely dissent. We
respect an honest, capable, instructive de-
tectve Of crime; but we do not think the
duties OF detective and those Of a reporter
are by any means necessarily united. We
would not detract anything from the credit
due to Mr.. BALCH He Is entitled to the re
ward which had been offered, and ought t.
receive it; but his venture had nothing
whatever to do with journalism-no more
than that Of THE SUN reporter WESTON, whC