The record-union., 1893-05-12
a SPECIMEN OF CIVILIZED JURIS-
PRUDENCE.

a SPECIMEN OF CIVILIZED JURIs-
PRUDENCE.
a young man named Jessup had the
misfortune to fall heir to an estate valued
at from $4,000 to $4,000. AT the death
of the parent, the appraisement showed
this value in the property left behind
him, and subsequent judicial determina-
tion proved young Jessup to be the only
heir.
The Probate Court in San Francisco has
been trying recently to find out what
became of young Jessup's estate. 1t had
been probated and we presumed distri-
buted, or if the distribution was still
pending, the heirship of young Jessup
had been judicially determined.
The recent proceedings possess a high
degree of interest. The attorneys were
called in to testify concerning the dis
tribution of the estate, and the immediate
attorney OF young Jessup, who conducted
the case stated to the court with self-com-
~@4NA~bCAJ HoSAlAdLCO IldG HOuuR JSSSuD
still had "a whole lot of money!; that he
closely resembled bloated lnonopoIist;
that he must have as the final ADJUDICATION
OF his rights from $3.50 10 S30,00O But
what became Of the rest is the question
the court is interested in having an
swered. 1t went to the cost of determin-
ing the question of young Jessup's right,
and chiefly in large amounts to attorneys.
Forty per cent. Of the whole, under con-
tract with an attorney, went to that attor-
ney.
Now comes information, which may be
regarded as reliable, that the true in
wardness of this case is not understood,
1t is notorious fact in San Francisco
That the litigation of every estate involv-
ing any question of paternity, or hotly
contested by heirs, is blackmailed by a GER
rtain class Of the press of that city. 1t is
an open secret that certain of the press has
an interest in the Blythe estate.
The condition of public morals in the
city of San Francisco must be extremely
deplorable when out of an estate of Sl4O,-
900, the legal heir gets S25, 900, according
to the admission of the party most inter-
ested in making such admission; but alb
solutely nothing, if still more reliable
testimony is to be credited
Thus $4,000 is consumed in determin-
ing the right of ownership. To say this
is failure of public justice very feebly
expresses the fact. 1t is an example
of public robbery of the most
barefaced description. For causes anala-
gous to that which robbed young Jessup
reforms of any public abuse are lmpos-
siole in this State. In the first place, if a
reform is instituted by the more honest
clement of journalism, it will be noticed
that many of its contemporaries will
mention the matter favorably for time.
but that eventually all mention of it will
disappear, and finally the paper strug-
Cling TO effect the reform will be left en-
tirely alone; and if the truth could be
brought out into the clearer light of day
it would be seen that the reformer had
simply created a splendid market for
venality. 1t has been so in all time. An
assault made upon associated capital is
the opportunity for the venal publisher.
In the olden days, when stock-mining
was at its zenith, the rings which were
milking the street had to defend them
selves, and the only thing honest journal
ism performed for the public was to make
market for journalistic scoundrelism.
1t has long been known and under
stood that there is little or no profit in a
judgment against a stubborn creditor.
and it is becoming almost universal.
therefore, to find representations to the
public Of the merit or demerit of law
suit to be part of the case; as much a
part of it as the testimony introduced
into the court; and for this the litigants
must pay. Public enterprises are not
free from the baleful influence of Jour
nalistic yenality, and the journals prac-
ticing this species Of venality absolutely
defend it on the ground that it promotes
public enterprise.
Take the system of irrigation, outlined
by what is known as the Wright law, and
we will lind perfect illustration. If all
the money that has been paid to news
papers for public representation concern
ing the value of the bonds to be issued in
pursuance of the Wright law could be
collected in one treasury, it would amount
10 almost as much as the value of the
bonds that were actually sold in the mar
ket. There was no end to the imposition
practieed on that great interest.
The higher and better traditions of
Journalism are being lost sight of and the
point of departure between honest and
dishonest journalism was found where
men would accept pay for articles which
appeared in the news columns without
any mark to indicate their advertising
nature. From that point journalism has
made a rapid descent. The remedy for
this will be found at last in the disap-
pearance of journalistic influence in any
matter. When paper takes a position
concerning the merit of a trial before q