The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
THE PRESS
Must Not Report Divorce Cases.
Some Good Advice Givon 30 the
Chicago Reporters.
Judge Tulley's Announcement in
the Courtroom.
The Attractive Features OF tho
Gases Must Be Omitted.
The Judge In Answer to n Petition From
Litigants Fiiod in the Court Tells
tho Truth and Tells
IL Wisely.

CncAGo, Ill.,, April 81. The low NUT
tcrings Of the past few weeks on the part
OF the circuit judges against the system
employed 10y the press In reporting divorce
proceedings, today assumed tangible
shape. When Judge Tullcy entered his
court room lac found IL filed with divorce
litigants, the usual quota OF scandal lovers
and the. representatives Of the press.
Looking at the latter he said: IL desire
TO say to the representatives OF the press
that it is my earnest wish that the news.
papers cease the publication Of these
divorce proceedings. Apart from the great
wrong done the parties seeking the relief
Of the courts, | am satisfied that the publ
cation Of these divorce proceedings
has a very bad effect upon the pub
lie morals. | know il will be said that
these details would not be published II the
public did not demand il. The public has
no vested interest in the scandals or in.
ielicities of married people who find them.
selves compelled 10 appear in these courts
Ms applicants Tor divorce. II the public
taste is SO Initiated ~ 10 demand the pub.
LEGATION OF these proceedings, IL appears TO
me that the newspapers ought 10 bo better
than the public. am aware Of the fact
that YOU gentlemen, knights Of the pencil,
are acting only under the orders OF your
supcriors, but II YOU are bound 10 report
these proceedings, think the judges have
a right TO demand that they shall he cor.
rcctly reported. This has not always been
done. Without entering into any particu-
lars, designating any special newspaper,
any reporter or any particular oc-
casion, will say that scenes are
pictured as having occurred here that
never happened. Witnesses are reported
10 have made statements that were never
made, counsel 10 ak questions that were
never asked, and the Judge himself to usc
words that lac never thuught OF tutoring.
do not believe Ihat there Is any malice In
/ this work ON lhc part oi the reporters. 1t
| appears 10 arse from an effort 10 give n
fictitious recital Of what occurred orcrcatcd
n sensation. This musi bc stopped. |
scarcely know how II Is 80 he done. |
have not fully considered II. / know that
the newspapers can stop II, and | hope
they will
As 10 the peoplc who gather here 10
I lhAfll w lUt Iftlltl tl fAll'hN' Hiit'hil W
their dcpnycd taste, I propose hereafter
10 admit none except thOsc who may find
seats. have been compelled on more
than one occasion 60 order young girls who
come In parties " from five 10 dozen. 90
leave this courtroom. I shall extend
this order to the bailiis 10 keep out Of the
court.rooms all minors during the hearing
Of these divorce proceedings. II Is wise
and even necessary 10 publish these pro.
cccdings in an an accurate manner There
fore, cannot exclude the reporters, even
II | wished, and ! would not II had the
power, but ! feel that the manner in
which these divorce proceedings haycbccn
reported for the last six or twelve months,
tends Ia bring the administration oi justice
into ridiculc, II not contempt, and It must
bc stopped.
when the court concluded the bailih
proceeded 10 clear the courtroom OF all
young girls aud boys, and there was many
red face ~ the person OF dcpaycd taste
passed out into the hall.
In Judge Horizons court there was ALEC
little lecture delivered, but Il was moro
mild. The judge merely requested that In
the future the reporters be careful Ia omit
the term decree granted" Ia eases heard
in his court, ~ lac did not grant DEGREES
until the evidence had been written up
and examined carefully. The publication
Of these remarks WIS also calculated 10 do
injury 10 the parties, as they often 70.
manned when DEGREES had not been Is.
sued.