Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-27

would give us the information tonight.
Mr.. Lynch-No, sir; | did not say
that. said | would look the matter
up, and so l will. But as l have said,
you cannot railroad these things. We
cannot investigate the matter tonight
because we have not the material here.
What you are interested in, or ought to
be interested in, is to get the facts of
the case, not the name of the informant.
l offer either to substantiate what have
said by II O'Clock Wednesday, or with
draw it, and make reparation. am not
Sinking anything. l published the
statement on my own authority on facts
which | considered sufficient. [Consid-
cradle discussion here followed as to
some persons who were said to have
circulated the story about Nicoletti.]
c.. Schroeder = There was another
statement in the editorial which asserted
that this delegation is composed of pimps
and pariahs.
Mr.. Lynch-You incorrectly state
that matter. There was nothing in the
HERALD to that effect. My article was
influenced by the immense number of
repeaters at the primaries who gave
their address as at Theodore Bauers'.
The article was again called for and it
made for the name of it's originator.
Mr.. Lynch-Mr. Chairman and gen.
tlemen, claim as I did at the opening
OF this discussion, that a newspaper man
holds the same sacred relation to his
sources of information, to those who re-
pose confidence in him as lawyer does
to his client, or priest in his confess
sional does to his parisheners. l will
give you no more information than what
l have said would, nor no less. l do
not propose to give any confidence away.
l will always stand by what l say and
accept the consequences. And tell you
plainly that you cannot coerce me into
breaking one of the first rules
of journalistic life. You are wasting
your time over details when you should
be considering the great wrong which
has been done to the honest voter, the
crimes which were committed against
Democratic principles. l have simply
asked for necessary time in which to
produce my evidence. If by Wednes-
day at II O'Clock l cannot offer proofs
l will do what l have said I would do.
Judge Stephens-We would like your
explanation of the terms "pimps and
pariahs" as applied to this delegation.
Mr.. Lynch-If what 1 said about this
man is true, those statements are true.
There is not single charge in my arti-
Gle rejecting on any other man, and not
on him unless the proofs are forthcom-
ing.
Judge Stephens-Your article has
been published abroad; do you not
think something should be sent out
holding the judgment Of the public un-
til you act further in the matter?
Mr.. Lynch-Yes, | believe that. But
my language does not make any rehec-
tions on anyone unless what believe to
be facts are facts. On the contrary, 1
have held that this body is such an hon
orable one that the presence of this
man, If the story is true, is an outrage
on it.
Judge Stephens-I do not want to 90
out in body of men branded as pimps
and pariahs.
Mr.. Lynch-There is not line in the
article that takes that view of it, You
know that did not take that view.
have lived too long among these gentle
men to make any such assertions.
Judge Stephens-Then you admit
you were too hasty?
that was too hasty. Substantially I
stand by that article, though l am will
ing and glad to modify anything that
the truth will make different.
Mr.. White made an argument for
fuller explanation.
Mr.. Lynch-I offered to you the fullest !
explanation on Wednesday, in due
time. simply claim my rights in the
matter.
Mr.. White-Suppose the person who
told the story to you lied to you?
Mr.. Lynch-They may have been mis-
taken or again they be right. What l
have said l will say again, that if I am
right will prove it, or if l am wrong l |
will make the fullest reparation to this
gentleman. l have not assailed this
delegation. This man might be pimp
or pariah and still not have been in |
the penitentiary.
Judge Stephens-1 think we should
pass resolutions calling on Mr.. Lynch to
give his authority.
Mr.. White-Mr. Lynch declined to do
that. If he finds he is wrong he has
promised to vindicate Nicoletti. If I
were Nicolette l should deny the matter
at once.
Judge Stephens-I am prepared to
offer resolution that we are convinced
that the charge is false.
There was here some suggestion that
Mr.. Joseph Mesmer knew something of
the matter. He said: The slate pre-
sented to the East Side delegation bore
Mr.. Nicoletti's name. 1 offered obiec-
tions to him, based on what had been
told about him and the resort he keeps.
When saw his name l said that l
thought a man who conducted such
place as his was very Objectionable. 1
have never been to his resort, but my
information came from people who
claimed to know his resort and the class
Of persons who patronized it. hadno
fight against him personally, but felt
that we owed it to the party and the
people to send the very best men for
delegates. said put somebody in his
place not open to criticism. l hear that
he keeps dive which is frequented by
prostitutes.
Mr.. White here said that if the case
was so the man ought not to go. 81
asked Mr.. McCaffrey to put on some
other name about which there could be
no question, but the result was that Mr.
Nicoletti was voted through. There
were only twelve of us, and we were told
that we had to stand in with the boys of
the second ward or we would get moth
ing. never told anyone that Nicoletti
was convicted felon. knew nothing
81, l. VIII T o+o +oI