New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-06
HE SPOILED HIS STORY.
ZEAL FOR TRUTH WAS THIS REPORTERS RUIN.
From The Chicago Record.


From The Chicago Record
Newspaper reporters sometimes thrown
against strange experiences in getting the news
that other folk comfortably read next morning
But. believing himself in a fair way TO obtain
narrative which other news writer IS aware
Of the reporter is willing to go sleepless ana
foodless and to undergo all kinds of peril in
order that By all means he may get ms piece OK
exclusive news.
Such a man was Ezra Hemming who worked
on a Western naper-one OF the kind which
would now be denOminated as yellow and ire
quenty thrilled his town with startling stories
OF fact Hemmng had a reputation for alert
ness which was second TO none, and as ne mad
large circle of friends who made 1t their Dus!-
ness 10 inform him upon privately known aHdlrs
he was seldom at the short end Of an 'ex-
elusive" story. one day John Boyd who was
the Sheriff OF the county, captured morse
thief who was badly wanted by community
in the interior OF the state. The deputy from
the county the officials Of which were
after the thief came down 70 the metropolis,
and in his conversation with Boyd Intlmated
that there would be- a lynching when he got
home with his prisoner Boyd tod henH mn OK
the threatening aspect of things. ana the re-
porter had a long talk with the deputy To mis-
dsmay he learned that the prisoner would hot
reach the rural community when wanted 10 uo
business with him until 2:45 IN the morning, an
hour which precudcd the possibility Of so"d
story Hemming n man OF resources
though and a. there seemed 10 be little question
Of the details of the coming event ne went 10 tnc
Office ard wrote a three-cOluinn account oi INC
lynching. mentioning the names ot prominent
citizens present and adding fourishes ana oTnt-
mcntation To stretch out 10 imposing length
ne caused one man. whom he was prudent
enough To designate as unknown To mount
box and make an appeal in behalf OF me culPlIr
DESPITE the prayer ot fflsglnSon tehde!-
hearted advocate however" Hemmlng wrote,
the farmers who had suffered from ms depIr,
dations insisted on wreak,ng VENGEANCE Ana
he went On in that strain for seFeIaI pages Ii'hN-
ing the intercession a strong point
He explained 10 Crawford. the CITY edItor.
that there was no doubt of the thlnS coming
out Just as he had written it. but To- De suIe
h1 vvoIIld lyfre a Yes or 40" from the station
when his train reached the town. for ne planned
10 accompany the deputy. ,,
AZ . o'clock in the morning ordWlo'u ''0'''-N
this juhant bulletin: ~
big thing Five hundred people. Nile or
more of rope Now headed FOR tall sycamore
tree H.. =. .ho
pressroom the page with Jennings glorious eN-
elusive story. came this announcement.
IT'S all Off. They're not going to DO II.
Hemminc came back looking like a mailman:
For two DAYS he roved around, Stopping al 'il
times 70 butt his head against something natd
At last ne was induced by crawford 10 tAPIdm,
"Nhen we got there he said. 1t was sure
thing They had il al ready, and took Hlgsih-
son away from the deputy with yell. Ihch
I sent my first bulletin. they rushed MN 20
the sycamore and were just about 10 s"lns
him mn when il occurred to me that it would
suoil the story If somebody didn't rise up ana
make an appeal for mercy for tie thlen.
waited hoping for the usual ntercession, I'll the
danger line and then. nobody else showed a
sign Of talking for him | jumTed up on some,
thing and started in on it myself just wanted
10 make the facts fit the story had written
60 | made the speech | had attributed To the
unknown. At first they didn't want To listen,
hut pretty soon they quoted. and poured Il
in thinking all the time how lucky was "
have written the thing. | jumped down then
and stepped aside to let the regular programme
90 on. As did somebody yelled. 'By thunder.
he's right And another voice declared: ~
,,,oI,ld disgraca the town. boys" And third
called. Let's take him back To jail And before
7 knew it that lot Of chumps had turned tan ana
rushed my thief my private horse thiel' my own
- Tor whom | had spread myself over three
columns back 70 the town and 20 the JAN WheTe
they left him and dispersed
That" said Hemming. sadly Is why ! wan.
sor,.bodv 10 break my head in. Would You
mind kicking me all afternoon if pay you fo'
YOUR trouble