Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-13
WASHINGTON.
Life and Character Of the Dead
- journalist. ~
His First Experienee-PersOnal History
Politics and fighting-Star Route
Quarrels-Persona Defamation
The Result.
The MORAL TO BE DRAWN,
Special 10 the Register.
The Safeldo Shooting.

night, and who died here yesterday, was a
South Americana Venezuelan l think
who has been connected with Washington
journalism for several years past. 1t is
said he came to Washington as private in
one of the regular army regiments and got
his discharge here. II this is true that
part OF his experience was the result of
patriotism or temporary impeeuiorsity,
for he was too 49, ----~ ------- ----
gone into the ranks as a business venture.
His first newspaper connections were with
the local press of Washington, and he
stan ted out with an impression, common to
beginners, that local newspaper can pub
ish ANYTHING and everything that comes
under its observations. II anybody in
town, from the President down to cham
bermaid got drunk, or got caught IN
questionable practices, he put it in the pa
per, and in q community where getting
caught was a matter of time with most OF
the citizens, it did not take him long to
devastate the subscription lists OF the
journals TO which he was attached.
Personal History.
After exhaasting the local field he took
up outside correspondence, and did good
deal better When first met him he be-
lOnged to the same association and shared
the same offices in which the Cincinnati
Gazette, indianapolis Herald, Baltimore
Alpsrieu and San Francisco Chronicle were
quartered, and furnished the correspond
ence and news from Washington for the two
latter. He was then as active, as intelli-
gent. and as handsome q young fellow as
there was on Newspaper Row, and no.
body's prospects seemed any brighter: He
had married the daughter of prominent
hotel keeper at Niagara Falls, had pleas
ant home in Washington, and was making
money and friends and reputation IN his
profession.
Politics and Fighting.
Unfortunately he had good many OF
the faults incident to passionate and fear
less temperament, and he hated his enemies
as vigorously as he liked his friends. His
correspondence got him into more than the
usual number Of quarrels, and q contro-
versy in which he became involved with
Senator Ben Hill of Georgia, few years |
ago. growing out of a newspaper publica- |
cation, was only prevented from culmlnat-
ing in fight by the fact that it took place |
in one of the lobbies of the Senate Chamber,
OF late wears Sateldo had been something
of n managing politician with more than
the usual bad results of combining TWO
professions. He held the Clerkship OF the
House Committee on Railroads, owned IN
terests in fancy restaurants and pool rooms,
and was accounted something OF pollucal
speCulatOr and lobbyist.
Star Route Quarrel.
When the information as to the enor-
NOUS profits that were being taken IN by
| the Star Route ring leaked out, 1t IS alleged
| that he was one Of an even more reprehen-
| sible ring of newspaper men that demand
| ed money from Brady and his associates as
| the price of silence and withholding dis
! closures from the public, and only whenit
was refused them, began the attacks which
| led TO present and impending inyestiga-
! tions. However this may be, it is certain
| that Sateldo was looked upon by the par
! ties IMPLICATED in the Star Route fraud as
| a dangerous enemy, and took advantage OF
| their first opportunity to cripple him. This
! oppOrtunity was not long in arriving.
| Brady's purchase of controlling interest
| in the RepUbiicm and CritIc, the morslng
! and afternoon Republican newspapers oil
! the city, provided him with battery,
| which under the direction OF experienced
| mudslingers like Gorham and Buell., made
| il exceedingly lively for the opposition.
| They got after Sateldo early in the fight
| and soon made il evident that the latter
| would be compelled to stop them or leaNe'
Personal Defamation.
| Their attacks were confined to his per-
sonal character and habits, and were unus-
ualIy bitter One narrating the incidents
of real or imaginary difficulty between
Sateldo and disreputable character here,
over a woman of doubtful reputation, was
/ sent TO the wife of the former and another
/ of later date charged him with an attempt
| 10 bribe an emplOye OF the RspUbitcdlt office
| 10 furnish the copy of the first article with
the purpose Of exposing the authorship.
| Whether these statements are true or
| false there is no doubt that SAT- do came to
| understand that it was case oil
Fight or Run,
| and chose the former, with the result now
known. The sadness OF the sequel is in-
tensifed by the growing conviction that
the ball which killed him came from. the
pistol of the younger brother, who accom-
panied him on the fatal errand, taken,
doubtless, with the purpose OF obtaining
| satisfaction through q retraction OF the
charges made, or, failing in that, through
an attack upon those who published them.
| Firing in a narrow room, with no other
light than that furnished by shaded stu
dent lamp, il would be difficult for any OF
the participants in the affray to know
where their lead took effect, but 1t Is not
likely that Barton, close pressed and
clinched by the elder SateldO, could have
fired the fatal shot while it is probable
that the younger, in his excitement and
uncertainty. increased by the upsetting OF
the lamp, forgot that his brother stood be-
tween him and his intended victim.
ISLANDER and Murder.
tha
occurrence in Washington, it is that the
crusade of personal defamation that has
been carried on by some newspapers here,
ought to be stopped. Few if any blame
Barton for his share in the tragedy. He
may have had his zeal in his employers,
service stimulated by his personal dislikes,
but the character of the newspaper on
which he worked, and that of those which
1t fought were fixed by others, and the
| tendency of most journalists who hold re-
| sponsible places is to be LOYAL to the policy
| OF their establishment even il il does not
| always meet their own appreciation.
One of the condolences connected with
| the present tragedy is the fact that but re-
! Gently one Of the proprletors oil the
/ Chronicle. with which SateldO was connect
4 u, q
| with personal defamation and ended IN
| murder.
Court of Claims
! WASHINGTON, February l2.-The Judges oil
/ the Court of Claims were in conference, To-
| day, with the House Committee on Civil
| Service Reform, in connection with the
| preparation Of bill to relieve Congress
| from the consideration of all claims against
the government The Court Of Claims had
adjourned till the Goth in the hope that the
President will have filed the vacancies on
the bench before that date and by so doing
allow the court to take up certain cases, the
I hearing Of which has been postponed by
the possibility that they might result in
mistrial through an equal division OF the
court as at present constituted
Presideutia Elections
David Dudley Field appeared before the
select committee of the House on law, re-
Specting the electiOn of President and Vice