Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-16

for the boys to circulate the edition
as printed, containing the modified
article. The more Objectionable ar
ticle remained in type, where 1t had
been left to show Mr.. Work the enorm-
ity of It, until the morning after the
affray, when Kennedy's agent came
down saying that the latter had di-
rected it to be distributed, by which
its identity was lost. A proof of 1t. |
however, was taken while 1t lay In
the galley, aud was exhibited in court
this morning. Such In brief. but sub
stantially, was the testimony given by
Mr. Roam. 1t was corroborated by
Fred Work to the extent that he re.
ccyed the telephone message, Just
as Kennedy told Roam. Fred Work
communicated the fact to his brother,
Bert Work, who told it to his code,
fendant S. II. kohler, and looking at
the affair in the light of an attempt
at blackmail, they seem to have reach.
ed the conclusion that, as no demand
for money had been made and MS there
was an evident desire to thus keep
clear of the technical commission of
that crime, the only adequate remedy
for them was to themselves pun,
ish the blackmailer.
Mr. Kennedy did not so upon the
stand himself so that Roan's testi-
mony stands uncontradicted by him,
and we may therefore conclude that
| he admits 1t to be true.
1t was in evidence also that the
Akron manager of the Cleveland
! Tribune told Kennedy, before he at
| tempted to open communication with
the Works, that he had investigated
the story thoroughly and had satisfied
himself that there was no truth in it.
Thus the publisher of a most afro
cious lie, was directly advised of its
falsity in advance of the publication
We desire to say very little by way
of comment on this testimony. 1t
comes from witness who Is in no
way interested in the result. He was
by no means n swift witness and on
|ly came into court upon compulsory
process. His story did not seem to
us to be materially shaken under "a
most rigid discrimination.
/ If 1t Is substantially true, it would
IN many parts of this Unions anywhere
south of the Ohio river, be held a good
excuse for an extreme punishment of
a slandewr who, for the mere mcr'
cenary consideration of few dollars
would be willing to sacrifice the hap
pincss of two innocent families, even
to the extent of taking life.
| We are not saying that 1t would be
valid excuse for that, or for any
form of violence whatever. We do
not believe that II would. We coun.
tenance no attempt to take the law in
to ones own hands, and thus execute
private vengeance, What we 10 say
IL, that II this testimony is true, II FUR
nishes n provocation so extreme that
In the present instance the merit of
the prosecution Is legal and technical
only, ana that no interest of the public
viii he secured by anything more than
technical consequences.
We again ask our readers to look
mt the testimony carefully Including
the article to have been used as an
incentive TO call around aud settle,
which will be found In another column,
ana see IL they do not agree with Ms.
While the American people have no
sympathy with law-breakers of any
sort, they do not draw the line In ia
vor of assassns of character. For him
they have no use; and In the light of
today's developments we may fairly
ask whether some OF the attendants
at the Indignation meetings were not
victims Of misplaced confidence.
+. Every time some patriot rises to sug,
: gest the need of a new party ms an
addition To the already numerous
IL A. Il