Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-08-14
CORRESPONDENTS
A so UIRE PUNCTUREs A PAPER.


Kindly permit me small space in
your valuable paper to make few
remarks on the following article,
which appeared in the local columns of
the Homecoming Reoieao, dated July 80
An interesting case was tried before
prominent justice of the peace about o'clock
Friday evening, Immediately in front of Mrs.
PEBBLES residence on Church Hill. 1t ap
pears that a son of the said justice was ac-
cused by lady of having visited a peach tree
for the express purpose of samplng the
luscious fruit which it bore. After due con-
sideration of the evidence adduced decision
was reached which made no reference to the
boy, but characterized the lady as q deliberate
liar. After this impartial decision had been
repeated for the fourth time the lady's
patience ceased to be a virtue, and the justice
was denounced as big red-headed Irish
man." Here was a clear case of feminine
contempt of court. The manly bosom of the
justice heaved for a moment with righteous
indignation as he sought in vain to find
legal term adequate to the occasion finding
none, patience again seemed to cease to be
virtue and the lady was in turn denounced
as a big bul-frog.' The court then adj
journed while peals of laughter, participated
in solely by the squire, rang out upon the
midnight air.
Now, the justice denies all know
VI tIC ttpoNO tutIltOutl tdSc,
and hereby states that no such case
ever came before him for a hearing,
as can be shown by his official docket.
l have taken notice, since the Reciel1
came under the control of the present
management its columns have on
more than one occasion contained
articles supposed to cast slurs on
the Irish, both individually and as
a class generally, Notwithstanding
the fact that they contribute largely
to its support. Therefore, laying all
other considerations aside, think this
very ungrateful. 1t is, in fact, giving
a SLAP in the face to a race OF people
who, in my humble opinion, deserve
better treatment at its hands.
In the article given above the Reeiew
cites false, unjust, and uncalled for
case, supposed to have been tried by
magistrate who is designated as a ''big
red-headed lrishman," and who is held
| up to the contempt and ridicule of the
reading public. Seeing later the in
justice he had done, the editor (and he
alone is responsible for all that appears
in his paper, lightly explains in last
week issue by saying sit was only a
joke" But, admitting it ecas q joke
on the part of the Recieoo-and ] admit
1t for the sake of argument only-was
it understood in that light by any per-
son but the Recieao ? | think not.
When man takes up a newspaper
| (eNcuse the expression in this case)
and reads of a certain case, tried before
Il court of justice, it never for q mo-
ment enters his mind that the editor is
indulgiug in brainless Joke. To
prove what | say, let me give the
article in question as it appeared 3
day or two later in the Baltimore
| -4merican:
In Lonaconing the other day a case went
against woman, and she took her revenge
| by calling the magistrate "big red-headeCl
| lriShman." The magistrate did not fine her
for contempt, but denounced her as Il big
bull-trog,,' after which the court peaceably
adjourned.
This is conclusive evidence to any
sane or fair minded person that it was
not looked upon as a joke.
Now, see but two avenues of escape
for the Recieso;: either of them is not
very acceptable, namely: it either
fabricated its joke with malicious in
tent, OF it has not common sense
enough to discern between Joke and
what may prove to be a libel. If it be
the former, it is criminal if it be the
latter, then it must remember that
"Where ignorance is bliss it's folly to
be WISE does not apply to newspaper
men.
In conclusion, | would remind the
Reo'e'o of the lrishman's appeal to the
man on the house: Come down from
your roost and look up at yourself y
see your own productions and the pro-
ductions of your contributors as others
see them at times, and | think you
will hesitate to insert them. If not in
Difference to others, tLen in considera-
ton of your own interests.
G. S. MURPHY,
,JuStica of the Pence