The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-03-25
AN ASTONISHING VERDICT.

TIE herald is frank TO confess It's
yery great surprise at toe verdict ID tne
libel suit of Charles L. Lowe agalns
THE HERALD Company. The surprise
extends to the degree of real astonlsh-
ment. Upon what theory, what state
ment of facts the jurors based thelr
finding it is impossible for US to divine
The verdict is, to our minds, STRIKING
yerifcation of the old saying that even
divinity cannot ell what jury will DO
TEr HERALD knew that it had inten-
tionally Hbeled no one; it knew 1t enter
tanned malice for none. SO confident
was it in the rectitude of its position
that the bringing of the suit was be-
lisved TO have been the outcome of bad,
vicious and vengeful advice, and when
the case come on for trial the sincerity
and honesty of the paper in Its having
done no wrong were such that we did
not think it possible that twelve men
could be found who would say
that the journal had done other
wise than an honest and enter
arising newspaper should have done.
The confidence was such that 1t
WAS not deemed worth while to challenge
from the panel men known to be IN
friendly to the paper, and opposed to
its poIiti olicy.. A vindication
was deemed absolutely certain, no one,
however remotely connected with the
case as defendant, regarding anything
else as possible under the circumstances;
and IL was never for moment doubted
that even an unfriendly juror could
find it in his heart to render verdict
otherwise than in justification OF the
paper. Under these circumstances is II
auy wonder that there is astonisnment
at the verdict? Also, were 1t not for
the fact that THE HERALD's supreme
confidence in the satisfactory outcome
of the trial seems to have been quite
generally shared by those who read the
reports of the proceedings, we might
reeard our assurance as unwarranted;
hut the verdict astonishes the public as
much as it does The HERALD, as was
shown when the news spread yesterday
morning.
We are not finding fault with the
jurors. We are bound TO believe they
acted conscientiously, and are also
going to believe that they satisfied their
ideas of duty, of the law and of justice.
We are going to b, lieVe that the twelve
men can find nothing in the verdict
with which to .proach themselves.
At the same time THE HERALD is 60
ing to believe that if the verdict is
righteous one and in accordance with
the law, publishing an honest and fear
less newspaper in Utah threatens to be-
come most dangerous, not to say pro-
fitIess business. II Inc current news Of
the dav may not be printed without first
being submitted to the censorship OF
courts and Jurors; if the public proceed
iugs of public courts and their officers
may not be detailed without subjectinG
publishers to damage suits and heavy
yerdicts, newspapers will be dreary ant
worthless indeed. 1t may as well be re
marked here, however, that disagreeinl
with the jury in this case as III
HERALD does, the verdict vii
not in the least degree at
feet the course of the paper
Being the organ of the people, III
HERALD will serve the people in tn
future as it has in the past; it will con
tipue to denounce wrong-doing an
crime regardless of the feelings
wrong doors and criminals; it will ap
pIaud virtue and right, offensive as the,
may be to some persons. THE HERAL
never has done and never will do an in
territorial wrong to any man, be h
friend or enemy; malice has never bee
a factor or an element in the conduct
the paper; if an injury has ever bee
done an individual. it was throug
honest misconception or misintorma
ton. and no journal in the land wa
ever more frank to confess an error
more:ready to undo wrong into which
NAV have been led in whatever manner
A senss of Justice and duty rather tina
fear OF libel suits has guided tn
course of THE HERALD in attackin
evils and denouncing crime an
criminals, and it will be that sense
iustice and duty which will control it j
future, regardless of the rantings fee
hungry attorneys and the inexplicabl
yerdicts of juries. The verdict of tt
great public is in our favor, and it
our vindication.