Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04

ly worked at the case on the Oxford (Ohlo)
Citizen. He was good type-setter. being not
only rapid. but making clean proof and he
had a faculty of being able to
DEcIPHER THE MOST UNIQUE CHIRoGRAPHY.
A story is told of him while he was a COM
positor on the Hamilton htelHgencsr, to the
effect that Judge Dunlevy, of Lebanon, had a
piece of manuscript which he had sent to the
Ohio State journal. Not typesetter in the
Office could read the stuff. and it was returned
to the author. who sent it to the LiteRtge,cer,
Halford tackled it and set it as readily as if it
composing-stick used b. William Dean Howells,
who learned his trade on the same paper.
As A HoOsIER.
In the latter part of Sc Halford went to
indianapolis. He first worked in job Office
and then secured a case in the composing-room
Of the indianapolis Journal, with which news
paper his reputation is now so closely con-
nected. Although he went there only as a COM
positor he had an ambition to become a news
paper man, aud one night .he went into the
room of Daniel s. Payne. who was then night
editor of the Journal. and told him that he
wanted a chance to do some reporting. Mr..
Payne turned him over to Josiah Locke, who
was the editor and proprietor of the paper, and
Locke handed the young man a proof-slip Of
an lad" with the remark: Suppose you write
ten-line notice of this womans business"
THAT TEN-LINE NOTICE
was the turning point of young Halford's ca
reer, and since his selection DIV Mr.. Harrison as
a presidential private secretary all the circum-
stances surrounding the incident have been un-
earthed and published 1t is said to have been
the most skillfully constructed ten-line notice
that has ever been penned. 1t was puff that
read exactly like a piece Of news. and SO well
pleased was Editor Locke that he took Halford
from the case and began to give him assign
ments. He developed an industry and a knowl-
edge of what news was and its value which in
short time made him formidable competitor
OF the older reporters, and he was known as a
hustler" Soon he stood in the front rank,
and men who had been reporting for years
found themselves outstripped by the young
ex-printer. There was vigor in his treatment
OF news and felicity Of expression that made
his work attractive, while he was found to be
full OF suggestions and original ideas that made
him valuable assistant to the editor. There
is story of bit of original work which
HALFoRD DID ON A HANGING
that is told by his friends in the profession
with great enjoyment. 1t is said that Halford
had a pleasant talk with the murderer a couple
of hours before the fatal moment and made
some novel suggestions. He said there had
been o good deal OF wonderment whether O
man who is hanged has any consciousness after
the drop falls. He urged the murderer to
wriggle the little finger of his right hand after
his neck was broken if he could to show that
ne knew what was going on. He was persua-
sive enough to secure the travellers consent
But the little finger never stirred
man with Halford's industry and ability
could not long remain as a reporter. and he be-
came first city editor and afterward managing
editor Of the Journal, on which he did his first
bit 81 repOrt0rial work. He carried to his new
duties the same vigilance, the same untiring
energy, and the same careful attention to de-
tails that had marked his career as a reporter,
and increase in the circulation and influence of
the paper in the community and in the state
showed the result Of
HIS sKILLFUL DIRECTING HAND
Shortly after the great Chicago fire J.Y.
Scammon bought the plant of the Chicago Re-
publican and started the Inter- Ocean, He looked
around for a managing editor and finally
picked out E. w. Halford, to whom he offered
the position. Halford accepted, left the Jour
nal, and under his able management the
Inter Ocean was put upon its feet.
The time was not yet ripe for an organ of
the tone assumed by The Inter Ocean, but Mr..
Halford made its way straight, and it was in
many respects . better paper during Mr.. Hal
lords administration than it had ever been
since. Mr.. Halford returned to his old posi-
ton in Indianapolis when Mr.. Frank Palmer.
afterward postmaster Of Chicago who had pur-
chased an interest in the concern, took charge,
and there he has remained ever since The
Indianapolis Journal has been noted under his
careful management for its fearless republican,
ism, its honesty of purpose, its purity of tone,
and Its admirable taste. Col. John C. New,
the present owner Of the Journal, SAYS that
Halford was the best managing editor the pa
per ever had.
MIR. Halford is thoroughly familiar with all
the intricacies OF Indiana politics, knows every
prominent man in the state, and for the last
eight years has attended every state conven-
ton. he has written many platforms and IL
is said that the tariff plank in the last Chicago
platform was his work. In person Mr.. Halford
strong face, broad full forehead. and a Keen
glance that would at once attract attention.
MR. HALFoRD's WIFE
Tas Miss Frances Armstrong, who went to In
dianapolis from Maine with her father and
mother when she was q girl, and she was for
merly considered the best singer in Indianapo-
us. Her daughter Jeanette is about eighteen,
and has been to school at Oxford. Ohio.
where Mrs. Harrison studied. The home,
life Of the Halford family is very
pleasant. They broke up Housekeeping
winter before last and Mrs. -Halford went 10
California for her health. Early in the wintsr