Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-29
DIDITS PLAIN DUTY
The Argus in the Case of the
Death of w. s. Barrett.
OLAUDIUs B. KINYoNs COMPLAINT.

ward the Physician In His Beiafod De
mand-A Resort to Law.
First OF all the news, is the motto
OF the newspaper which strives to
faithfully and conscieutiously serve
the public. While the daily Journal
Is not responsible for the diversified
happenings which contribute to the
contents OF its columns, it has a re-
spOnsibility to its readers to give to
them what does happen. 1t has a
duty to perform, and like that OF all
professional callings. it is som etimes
pleasant, sometimes otherwise. In
no case, however. can it shirk from
the duty and responsibility if it
would be true to its readers and to
itself. The ARGUS was engaged in
the discharge of its responsibility
when it published last January and
February certain articles, aproPos OF
the death OF Walter S. Barrett. to
which DIR. c. i. kinyon now takes
exception in his suit for SIS, 200 libel
against The ARGUS. aud in which
pro, ling he is counseled by W. II.
Gest and John +. kenworthy. THE
ARGUS at the time in question made
| reference to certain matters which
had been brought to the attention of
the coroner. 1t followed the case as
any enterprising newspaper should
have done, published the develop
ments from day to day and made
such corrections as arose as the cir
cumstances. 1t took nothing as
hearsay, but carefully Investigated
Everything pertaining to the matter.
In pursuance of its duty as a news
paper it urged that the postmortem
be made. 1t did so as duty TO the
heartbroken and sudd. My bereaved
widow, from whose lips it learned
the story of er fears. 1t did so as
DUTY to the public, it did so as a
duty to all implicated. whoever trey
might be. 1t is tie province Of the
newspaper to publish the news. 1t
is likewise it's province to take
a stand in all matters of pub
lie concern. 1t is the pro-
vince OF newspaper to urge
public Investigations where they
may seem warranted. The ARGUS
record in this community has not
been one of carelessness, reckless
ness or Indifference. 1t does not re-
gard the boast that it is diligent and
industrious in the discharge of all its
obligations to the public IN its en-
deavors to be accurate above all
things as an idle one, or as evincing
. spirit of undue egotism. While il
is energetic. proper caution is used
in the publication of news affecting
individual character and reputation.
professional or otherwise. 1t is the
place of the newspaper to discern as
to what is proper to publish. THE
ARGUS believes it is capable of that
discernment, for that is what it is here
for. No exception to any of these
rules was made in the case DIR. Kin
lyon complains Of. The same course
was pursued that would have been
had any other physician been impli-
Gated. No more was made of it
than there would have been other
wise-and no less.
The Late Day Proceedings.
It is not for THE ARGUS here to
discuss the merits of the case in
court. It is willing to abide the on t.
come OF those proceedings 1t
has no fear OF the consequence Of its
own course, but it must admit its
surprise that the demand on DR..
kinyon's part should not have been
made before. Indeed. The ARGUS
can but believe now, as it did at the
time, that his bes. opportunity for
vindication reposed in the exhuming
Of the remains then. But The AR.
GUS was alone in urging such an op-
Grafton. The May term Of court
passed and DR.. Kinyon did not make
known his grievance. but on the 4th
OF the present month he sent The
ARGUS Office the appended notifica.
ton in charge Of bailiff:
Rock ISLAND, Ill.,, Aug. 8, A. D.,
1S96.-To John W. Potter. Proprie.
tor and Publisher of the Rock ISL.
AND ARGUS. Rock Island, Ill. The
articles, to-wit: The article entitled
or headed, Wants 1t Exhumed-
Body of Walter Barrett Ordered E..
manifestations Charge Against a
Doctor-Deceased's Wife Makes Sen.
sational Accusations and Deman liz
Their Confederation by a Post-mor.
tenn Investigation" and printed and
publishe d in the Rock ISLAND ARGUS
(dai,y edition) of date January 81, A.
d., 1896. and the article entitled OF
headed, "In Justice to All, Walter S
Barrett's Death Should be Inves
tigated-Coroper Halves Indisposed
to Act-The Grief-stricken Widow
Seen-Did Not Write the Letter
Seeking Investigation-But End r:t
the Sentiment-Could Not Endur,
the Ordeal" and printed and pub
lished in THE ROCK ISLAND AsGU.
daily edition) Of date Feb. 4, A. d
1896, and the article entitled o,
headed mo Inquest Seems Likely
Coroner Halves Will Not Conduc
Examination of Walter Barrett's Re
MAINS" and printed and published
in The Rock ISLAND ARGUS daily
edition) of date Feb. Z, A. D, 1896,
and the article entitled or headed
"Wants it Exhumed-Body O. Wal
ter Barrett Ordered Exhumed 41Eeri
lous Charge Against q Doctor-De