The herald., 1895-06-19
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10. lsos.
HELD FOR CONTEMPT

A representative OF The Herald was yes
terday held by one OF the superior court
judges for contempt of court. The alleged
contempt was committed III feigning in
sanity for the purpose of being incarcer-
ated in certain asylum according to the
instructions of The Herald management.
The story of the reporters progress is
told elsew here in this issue. The failure
to achieve the purpose aimed at is in no
way owing to ths candidate for lunacy
honors 'weakening." as a regular "extra
edition evening contemporary asserted.
He is not made of that sort of material.
The Herald undertook this mission of in
vestigation in the best OF faith. animated
by no spirit OF sensationalism and with
no sinister designs against the manage
ment of the insane asylum. 1t has been
instrumental in exposing disgraceful, in
decent and inhuman conditions in one
public institution lately, and has been
partially successful in its battle for re-
form in the treatment OF those confined
therein. 1t is notorious that similar con-
ditions have prevailed in esta bishments
devoted to the unfortunate insane. The
Herald does not assert that any such con-
d,tions exist in the Highlands
asylum. But it desired to find out Just
exactly the status of things there, and
its representative was instructed to care
fully observe the same and tell the truth
to the public through this paper; to re-
port nothing in malice. nor aught in ex-
tenuation. If the management OF the
place is what II should be the officers in
charge should be glad to have the people
OF California know it. If it is not what
it purports to be. the public wishes to
be informed OF it, and would feel grateful
to The Herald for doing the informing.
The method Of investigation adopted is
admittedly unusual, but not unknown. 1t
is only the unusual and unexpected in
vestgations that develop the exact and
unadorned truth. The official investiga-
tons to which the public are accustomed
"
the subjects of scrutiny are always fore
warned and consequently forearmed.
Whatever OF evil there may be in the con-
duct of affairs is suspended during the
period OF Official censorship, and the
dress OF jccency and Kindness is assumed
for the time being. instead OF the every
day attire ot indecency and cruelty. The
Herald wanted an investigation of
things minus holiday apparel. the Her
aid does not believe its representative
in performing the duty assigned him was
tempt was intended; none was really or
technically committed. Neither the
peace. the good order nor the dignity of
the court was disturbed or infringed
upon. No iniunctons were disregarded
or disobeyed. While the law does not in
tend that sane people shall be sent to a
lunatics' retreat, it does not prohibit or
provide against the stimulation of insanity.
punishment for contempt in case like
that of The Herald representative would
he without precedent. The method
adopted by The Herald for getting at the
inside facts regarding the maintenance
of public institution, while not fire.
qrently used. has been resorted to,
and contenp pit proceeding IN connection
Herewith has never been heard of before.
1t is but few years since the San Fran.
cisco Examiner utilized identically the
same plan to ascertain the true condition
of affairs at the Stockton insane asylum
when the latter was the subject of I'M
favorable rumors. The Examiner was
successful in procuring the conviction Of
trusted representatives. the allegations
of wrong having been ascertained to have
been well founded, and as a result of the
reporters exposures sweeping reform.
were inaugurated. Nobody was punished
for contempt then. If The Herald report
er is guilty OF contempt now, he wa
guilty when he pretended to be a hobo
and secured a sentence to jail as such.
he is guilty of contempt, so are all thu
hundreds who have assumed the ranks o
vagrancy for the express purpose of get
tiag home in jail. He was brought be
fore the court in the way duly provided
by law. and there was neither disorde
nor disrespect manifested in his presenta
ton nor his demeanor. The Herald be
leves it is warranted in the opinion tina
after a careful and dispassionate review o
the facts in the case the honorable culr
will not hold that a contempt has beer
committed.