St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-30
WILL IT MEET THE PURPOSE

The bill introduced in the lower
branch of the Minnesota legislature
yesterday by Dr.. WILLIAMS, of Ramsey
county, prohibiting the coroner from Civ
ing Information to the press concerning
any dead person over whom an autopsy
or inquest is to be held, which would have
been derogatOry to the character of the
dead person in life; and, further, pro-
hibiting the publication of such matters
in the newspapers if it is in their pos
session, is certainly very novel one,
even though the subject matter is OF
such nature that it could hardly be
brought under the control of the law,
leaving aside the question of cOnstitu
tionality altogether. The GLOBE does
not doubt but that the motives
of the genial doctor were of
most laudabIe nature, but it does
doubt if he has sufficiently studied
the question in all its phases.
The daily newspaper is supposed to be
the conveyer of news, an educator of
the people, medium of reforming and
correcting errors and wrongs, and rep
resentS the links in an endless chain
that makes progress and prosperity pos
sible to the little hamlet and furthers
that of the growing city. The laws of
the state of Minnesota as at present con
stituted with regard to the publication
of daily newspaper are so stringent,
and hedge it about with such barrier
of possible libel suits, that the manag
ing editor who would retain his position
and the good will of the proprietor at
the same time must trim his copy like
paper doll, and make it just as harm
less, thus at times practically killing
the news and defeating the aims and
objects of the well-meaning journalists.
The real intent of the bill, and the
one the doctor undoubtedly had in view
when he introduced the measure, was
to prevent the giving of further pain to
the already grief-stricken relatives of
the deceased by dragging and parading
in public the moral shortcomings of his
past life; and TINS in itself Is certainly
commendable, but it is very questiona-
BILE whether the bill in its present form
would accomplish the desired object.
For instance, would it not be better to
have the real facts published in the
daily press with the charitable construc-
ton that is usually put upon such cases
by reputable journals, than to have the
coroner's jury, the witnesses and the
usual crowd of scandal mongers that
attend such trials handy the story
around among the public, each accord
ing to their own version, with no
means of hunting it down and making
denial? No reputable newspaper of
any standing in a community would
stoop to the point of blackening mans
character after death has placed him
bevond the pale of criticism, but the
facts developed at coroner's inquest
are sometimes of such nature that JUS
tice to others demands their publicity,
and the passage of such bill as con-
templated might be the means whereby
innocence would be punished and
crime go free.
There is another feature of the bill,
and one which has sorrowful aspect.
| Many a poor unfortunate. weary of
life, and seeking self-destruction as a
means Of ending miserable career, is
| forever lost to friends and relatives, and
when the inquest is held in such cases
| there are sure to be facts come out
which would have been derogatory to
the victim in life. No word is men,
toned in the public prints, and the body
is thrown into the trench OF the potter
field, whereas if the contrary were the
case some eye would see the Item. in
form the friends, and kind and loving
hands would prepare the last sad tokens
of sorrow and respect that could be
shown the unfortunate soul whose life
! was withered in its bloom,