The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19
NOT RESPONSIBLE.
An Editor Explains Why a Disclaimer
Appeared in His Papcr.

A Star reporter was talking with a
southern editor visiting in Washington
and during the conversation the editor
handed the reporter copy of his paper
to look at and compare with the met
ropolitan journals. 1t was an eight
column country weekly and had no dis
tinguishing marks save one paragraph
at the head Of the editorial columns,
which read: "The editor under no cir
cumstances shall be held personally re-
sponsible for communications appear
Ing in this paper"
That suggests reason why Il
should be there" said the reporter.
II don't KNOW" replied the editor,
that 1t does any good. but have had
1t there for ten years and 1t shall re-
main as long as am the editor"
And the reason?"
Good enough, / think, in the begin
ming. A dozen years ago took the pa
per- and used to print lot Of COM
munications from all sorts of people on
all sorts Of subjects, and while I didn't
exactly assume personal responsibility
for them, l sed to stand between the
writer's and the subjects as far as pos
sible. One week during the winter
something got in about one George 3.
Blank, a man l never heard Of, and the
article itself was. l thought, in the ma
ture Of a compliment. Two days after
1t appeared l was In my Office alone
when little, short, drled-up kind of a
chap came In, and, slipping the bolt on
the door. walked up to my desk and
planted himself about six feet from me.
I looked up, smiled, as usually did on
visitors, and asked him what I could
do for him.
my name,' he said, without return
ing my salutation, is George b. Blank,
the same mentioned in your paper of
last issue, and I have come in to pay
you for it..
There's no pay, assure you, Mr.
Blank l replied. On the contrary,
was glad to print It.
"'You are personally responsible for
1t, suppose?' he went on.
Certainly. Why not?'
That's why want to pay for 1t, he
said, angrily, and before I could make
a move he had me covered with huge
revolver. Don't get up he went on,
as I made movement. I'm going to
kill you, and can do 1t just as we'll where
you Sit
II could see now by his wavering
eyes that the man was crazy, and was
so unnerved that for a moment I
couldn't move hand or foot, just as you
feel in bad dream.
"'You wouldn't shoot a man unarm-
ed and helpless, would your asked,
gazing straight into his eyes, as they
do with lunatics, for thought might
beat him that way.
"1t is quite immaterial to me- he
laughed, and pulled the trigger.
But the revolver snapped, and as It
dill so he laughed again.
Don't feel disappointed he said,
pleasantly; there are four more cart
ridges left and they won't all miss fire. ;
las he tinkered q moment with the
pistol, keeping 1t trained on me, form
that one Of the boys had set by the
stove to thaw out yielded to the heat
and the type in 1t went to the floor with
q crash. 1t came so suddenly that my
visitor looked around quickly to see
Whdl ~ w dS, duu tudI lIlStdHt H1due
jump for him and caught his pistol
arm. Physically, he was no match for
me, and In minute had the revolver
out Of the way and had him pinned 10
the floor. where I choked him into in
sensibility. Then I unlocked the door
and called for help. and my visitor was
handed over to the town marshal and
locked up. Later I learned that some
years before Mr.. Blank had run for
Office and had been crazed by the news
paper fight against him, and he had
sworn to kill the next man who put his
name In the paper. That happened to
he me. and he evidently intended to
keep his word. and would have kept it
If the gun hadn't snapped. The only
real satisfaction l got out of It," laugh
ed the editor, in conclusion, was to
print the notice you have called my
attention to and to lick the blamed fool
that sent In the communication as a
picp 1itfle inka m, tho oditnrD