Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-17
EDITORS IN PRISON.

A number Of readers will recall the
imprisonment OF G. G. Heacock, the
editor OF the Brighton Enterprise, In
this state. on a charge of libel, the cdi-
tor being now In Jail serving his sem
tence. Heacock's offense was that he
charged a certain witness with perjury
before a grand jury. For this he was
fined 5000. Afterwards he republished
the same charge and was sent to Jail
for six months. In last Saturdays edi-
ton of the Enterprise appeared "A
Brief Statement Of the Heacock Case"
setting forth Its history, and for the
publication of this a son and brother
in-law have just been sent to Jail. How
much malice may have inspired the pub
lication on the one hand or misguided
judgment in the Imprisonment on the
other, Is not yet apparent Editor Hea-
cock seems to have the confidence of his
townsmen, for since his conviction they
have elected him mayor of Brighton
and the town council is said to have
passed resolutions endorsing him. The
Gazette, rival paper at Brighton, also
upheld Heacock. On July 4 he was
nominated for governor of Iowa by the
united christian party in session at Des
Moines.
The case is certainly an interesting
u
people can be in sympathy with libelous
journalism or lawlessness. The Wash
ington Press, published in the same
county in which Brighton is located,
has no sympathy with Heacock or his
offense, for in its last issue it says:
Heacock has to pay $500 on first con-
viction for libeing Doc Johnson. and
is in Jail six months for repeating the
libel, and now No. is on. His last
paper virtually repeats the offense at
great length. 1t is believed that he
wrote the secret dossier and bordereau,
but whether he did or not his brother
in-law, A. b. Endicott, and his son,
Guy, We're arrested for publishing it on
Saturday and We're brought here and
each gave 5000 bonds for appearance OF
August 80 Mrs. Heacock is reported
to the effect that she alone is RESPONSE
bile.
1t is singular that those in charge
should continue this expensive folly.
That paper would better devote less
time to truth" which has twice been
convicted of libel. and spend more time
and space on common sense. Inordinate
vanity hardly pays.
Taking another view OF the case, the
Muscatine Journal declares sit is time
to stop it"-referring to the latest ar
rests. After carefully considering the
case, the Journal says:
The arrest af Guy r.. Heacock and
Alfred r. Endicott, respectively son
and brother-in-law of &C Heacock,
editor of the Brighton Enterprise, last
saturday evening, on charge of libel,
may we'll be questioned. 1t seems about
time to stop this business. We have
carefully read the issue of the Enter
prise of Aug. 18TH, for which these ar
rests We're made. The criminal offense
in the paper that makes such pro-
priety and expediency of such publica-
ton may be doubted, there is nothing
in the paper that makes drastic pro-
ceeding necessary The publication
was simply a recital of the charges and
legal proceedings by which c. C. Hea-
cock is now suffering a sentence of six
months in Jail at Washington for Ii
bel 1t will be remembered that Mr..
Heacock is the nominee of the United
Christian party for governor. How
ever misguided he may be, he is not a
vicious or malicious man, and this con-
tinued persecution of him and his fam
lily can have no other effect than TO cree
ate sympathy for him. 1t was a violent
and we think unwarranted stretch of
judicial authority to annex to the Hea-
cock sentence an order forbidding him
to write for his newspaper, but when
that is followed up by the arrest of his
son and business partner, who are rum
ming the paper, the case becomes a blot
upon the administration of justice in
our state. 1t is not in the interest of
editors only, but of the people general
ly, that such uncalled-for restrictions
on the liberty of the press should be
condemned. Certainly halt should be
called in the Brighton cases. for Hea-
cock has surely mad enough punish
ment."
1t may be that an inhamed condition
exists in the minds of partisans of both
sides, those who are determined to UP.
hold the law, and those who are sup.
porting the editor, and that forbear.
ance on both sides would be virtue.
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IOWA PRESS COMMENT.
| Speaking of Governor shaws coming
campaign efforts the Atlantic Tele-
graph says: He is close to the people
and they will be willing to hear him
wherever he goes
The resolutions of the Dubuque trades
and labor congress in opposition to the