The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-27
LECTURING REPORTERS.

Judge Tuley, of Chicago, created
something of a sensation in his court
the other day. 1t was divorce day."
and His Honor was mad, first at the
newspapers and next at the crowd
which chad gathered into the room
to learn of the troubles in families, and
witness the unlocking of closets con-
tanning ugly skeletons. The audience
was made up largely of women and
girls, some being friends of parties to
divorce suits, and others were there Gu
of curiosity and TO crafty their tastes
for sensation aid filth. Looking over
the crowd, Judge Tuley showed by his
countenance that he was disguised and
then he proceeded to deliver free LEG
ture as follows:
desire to say to the representatives of the
press that il is my earnest wish that the
newspapers cease the publication of these
divorce proceedings Apart fr~n the great
wrong done the parties seekiL 8 the relief of
the courts, l an satisfied that the publlca-
ton of these divorce proceedings has
very bad effect upon the public morals.
know it will be said that these details would
not be published If the public did not de-
mand it. The public has no vested interest
in the scandals or infelicitieS ofthe married
people who find themselves compelled to
appear in these courts as applicants Tor
divorce.
If the public taste is so vitiated as to de-
mand the publication of these proceedings,
it appears 70 me thst the newspapers ought
to be better than the public. am aware of
the fact that you gentlemen, knights OF the
pencil, are acting only under the orders OF
Your superiors; but if you are bound 10 re
port these proceedings think the judges
have right to demand that they shall be
correctly reported. his has not always
been done. Without entering into any par.
ticulars, designating any special news
paper any reporter. or any par ocular oc-
casion, will say that scenes are pictured as
having occurred here that never happened,
witnesses are reported to have made state
ments that were never made, counsel to ask
questions that were never asked, and the
Judge himself to use words that he never
thought of uttering. l do not believe that
there is any malice in this work on the part
of the reporters. 1t appears t. arise from
an effort to give facetious recital Of what
occurs or to create sensation.
This must be stopped.
I scarcely know how 1t is to be done. l
have not fully considered 1t. know that
the newspapers can stop it, and hope they
will.
listen to the reclral of evidence suitable 10
their depraved taste, propose hereafter 10
admit none except those who may find
seats have been compelled on more than
one occasion to order young girls who came
in parties of from FIVE to q dozen to leave
this court room. shall extend this order
10 the bailiff to keep out of the court room
all minors during the hearing OF these
divorce proceedings.
1t is wise and even necessary to publish
these proceedings in an accurate manner
Therefore, I can't exclude the reporters,
even if wished. and would not if l lad the
power but feel that the manner in which
these divorce proceedings have been re-
ported for the last six or twelve months
lends to bring the administration of justice
into ridicule, il not contempt, and itmust be
topped.
In so Lfar as Judge Tuley denounced
the sensational and untruthfui style of
reporting which some papers assume,
he was right, and his words will be ap-
pIaudsd by honest reporters and honest