The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-29
PREsTnN's PREDIOAMKNr.

Former Resident OF Troy and Rem
ningtnn Under Indictment In Kansas
city.
The Kansas City Star of the 10th inst,
prints this:
The grand jury yesterday afternoon re-
turned true hill against II. l.. Preston,
publisher of the Sunday Sun, an unClean
paper. He was arrested at o'clock
yesterday afternoon on cdpis and was
released on bond procured by John
0'G:ady, his attorney. Indictments
were also made against two other per-
sons connected with the paper, but they
have not yet been apprehended. These
indictments are the first ever made
against the publishers of this disreputa-
BILE weekly in Jackson county, which
seems tu have been tolerated only be-
cause nobody dared make information
against it for fear of being himself
| lIbelled in its columns. The paper has
been in existence almost two years, and
now has many suits against it for crimi-
nal libel and damages pending through
out the country. Editor Preston has
been shot at and has been frequently ar
rested. The paper has been excluded
from many cities in Missouri, Kansas
and in Texas by special city ordinances.
! At the last session of the Missouri legis-
lature a bill was introduced by Repre-
sentative McLin and passed, making it a
felony to edit, publish, sell OF distribute
any newspaper, pamphlet, magazine or
printed paper mainly devoted to the pub
LEGATION of scandals or unclean matter.
| The law remained dead letter in this
county until yesterday, when the indict-
ments were returned, charging viola
ton. The punishment is Imprisonment
| in the penitentiary for not less than two
or more than five years. The board of
| police commissioners will take hand in
| suppresSing the vile paper, now that the
! grand jury has seen fit to indiCt the
publishers. The police can cffcctually
stop the sale of the paper, and they will
do so. An order has already been made
to Chief of-POlice Spencer TO notify all
patrolmen to arrest all newsbOys or
news agents selling OF distributing the
paper. To a reporter for the Star Com
missioner L. K. Morrow this afternoon
said: "The law makes it felony to edit
or publish paper devoted to immoral
matters. The news agents. carriers and
news boys are equally liable with the
proprietor. The commissioners, cogniz-
ant of the action of the grand jury i re-
turning an indictment, will order the
strict enforcement of the law, and news
agents must govern themselves accord.
ingly." Last night Judge White fixed
Preston's bail at $3.50 and accepted tenn
porary bond with John O'Grady and K.
p. Galloway as sureiies. This bond was
to be perfected this morning by the
qualifying of third bondsman, or else
Preston was to go to jail. Preston APP
peareG in court and asked time to ar
range the bond, which was given. At 2
o'clock he had not been successful in his
arch for a bOndsman.
Preston, who is by profession a book
keeper. was for some time employed in
the Troy Press counting room. He was
also interested in some theatrical enter
prises in that city. He removed from
Troy to Youngstown o., where he was
interested in newspaper. After it
failed he followed the star of empire to
Kansas City, where he established the
paper which has been complained Of 1t
is the first step toward the extinction Of
the Sun, and the suppression of its edi-
tors, as far as Kansas City is concerned.
The offense is plain and the law and the
| penalty are just as plain. The matter
should be pushed with all possible speed.
| The sooner the police commissioners act
and it is understood that they will act
at Once-the sooner Kansas City will be
purged of as dirty and offensive a publ
cation as ever afflicted respectable
community.
Preston has wife and several grown
up children. He is nephew of n. NJ.
Puffer of this town and once taught an
evening school here in connection with
| our Graded schools,