The Russellville Democrat., 1882-03-02
ROnGH ON TIE TIMES.
The Dirty Trick of a Malicious Newspaper
 EInploye.
London Cor. New York Times.

Einpioye.
 London Cor New York Times.
 A line appeared in last Mondays edi- ton of the Times which, however, has created more talk than the Worlds at tack upon Lord Lytton. IL was bu { single line, and it appeared in the mid dle of speech by Sir William Vernon Harcourt, delivered at Burton on-Trent. The words cannot be reprinted; they were inserted by some malicious em- ploye in the Times office at the last mo. ment prior to the forms going down. The line was piece of horrible inde- cency, and was inserted at portion oi Sir William Harcourt's speech where laughter had been frequently inter- polated to indicate the manner in which this humorous orators remarks had been received. Ii therefore attracted all the more attention. The speech being re- ported in the first person, and the line referred to written ill the third, it was at once apparent that no ordinary mistake had been made by compositor or reader, but that the offensive interpolation was the work of what the law calls malice aforethought" The entire edition of the Times seems to have been published be- fore the murder was out, but early on Monday morning messengers were rush ing about in all directions withdrawing the papers from circulation, and tele- grams were sent to all parts of the coun- try to confiscate the edition as far as possible. This, of course, only drew more attention to the paper in question, and during the day, it is said, the Times paid 2s and 3s. for single copies at both private houses and news vendors. There are rumors of even much larger prices being paid, in regard to which, however, it may be said that people are speaking in what Lord Beaconsfeld would have called the language of exaggeration. The managers of the paper took every possible means of destroying the work of their malicious employe or employees, for it hardly seems possible that the ofense could have been the work single man. The explanation of the outrage is no doubt to be found in the fact that some time ago the proprietors of the Times had difficulties with their workmen. The establishment has for many years been conducted outside the organization of the Printers Society, and as rule with perfect satisfaction to both com positors and machinemen. A few months ago, however, there was strike in the office, and several men were discharged. One of them summoned the publisher for wages, and the case was heard at Bow street. The result was in favor of the Times Several of the discontentcd men, l believe, were continued on the staff, and it is suggested that the shame ful work of Monday is an act of ven geance on the part of the unsuccessful strikers. The matter is being thorough iy investigated, but it is questionable whether, supposing the culprit is discov- ed, any proceedings will be taken against him, as they would involve the .repeti- ton in court of the words in question, a further publication of which would not be in the interest either of the Times or public morality. So far as the criminal nature of the offense is concerned, it is punis. able in half dozen different waos, and probably, if the prosecution were vigorously carried out, the cul prit might be sentenced to term of trans portation. The subject is discussed in various ways, both with mirth and sad, ness, as can be well imagined. 1t is but slightly referred to in any of the news papers. Last night many of the golden youth" and 'crutch and toothpick" phe- nomena of these latter days were abund- antly "sold" by vendors of "the speech ! of Sir William Harcourt, as reported in the Times, price 2d.," reprint which proved very popular in the streets after the theaters. When the purchasers came to examine the sheet, of course the found proper and correct version Of the notorious speech reproduced from the second edition of the Times. Active newsboys tried on a similar enterprise in the city yesterday without success The consternation of the editor of the Times, Mir. Chennery; the manager, Mir Macdonald; and the chief proprietor, Mir Walter, on taking up Mondays paper at breakfast and discovering the nature of the addition which had been made to Sir William Harcourt's oration, can be better imagined than described.