Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1903-06-25
UDGE SHAW IS RIGHT
A Timely Counsel to Newspapers
and the Public.

- 1870 ooOAAoS ~ 1NS"cR0POA I.
and the Public.
In rendering his decision in the
motion for continuance in the Jones
murder ase in Wilson, last week,
Judge Shaw is reported to have
said:
CATER careful and deliberate con-
sheraton, the Court is Of the opinion
that the defendants can get a fair
trial at this term, and the motion for
continuance is OVerruled. 1t will be
the business of the court to see that a
fair trial is had. flat any time dur
ing the progress of the trial anything
is said Or done in the cOurt room or
out of ii which would IN the opinion
Ofthe court prevent a fair and i'm!
partial trial the case will be continue |,
ed. The only thing that has caused |
me to hesitate in this matter il what
has appeared in the newspapers here
in this town. 1t is my wish and Ii
urge that newspapers do not discuss
h merits of this case during the
progress Of this trial. There is a
growing tendency of late years to
try cases outside us we'll as III the
court house. The talk outside pun
lie utterauceS are often based on
views other than those warranted by
the evidence and do not always re-
suit in fairness or Justice being done.
Prisoners charged with crime have
the right to a far trial and | want
both neWaps pers and people to cease
their G discussion of this co%pD
AS a general thing newspapers
take too much latitude in their pub
1ications-especially in catering to
morbid curiosity and sensual tastes
in giving publicity to current ru-
mOrs and details of crime: and when
any ole presumes to criticise the
course of such papers the public are
Immediately treated to a blood and
thunder editorial on this COURAGE
Gus attempt to muzzle the press"-
or words to that effect. But, after
all, editors, while accustomed to
speak of themselves as "we," are
simply individuals, with individual
views-often narrow and biased, and
sometimes preJudicedIust like other
people, and because they have a
newspaper and pose as 1--WE" is nc
justification for the course many OF
them pursue. On the contrary, the
fact that they have a newspaper and
are in the ,Watchtower-the custo-
dams of the peoples liberties and
the moulders of public sentiment,
whereby laws are enacted and en-.
forced and our free institutions up.
held and perpetuated, should cause
them to be the more careful in the
conduct of their papers, for the re
sponsibility rests upon them just The
same, and they are responsible in
conscience and before the bar o
eternal Justice for the consequence
of their course in conducting wha
has come to be known as, Or styled
E'yellow journalism"
What we have here said we hav
said, but let it not be interpreted a
initiating against that other pres
who, with tireless energy, with feal
less daring when they know the
are right, with conscientious labors
with oftenest unrequited efforts fc
the worlds uplifting and the pei
ple's veal, are exercising their CT
pacity in legitimate avenues Of pull
lie service.
The newspapers of to-day are til
only sources of public information
and should, therefore, be most car
full and discriminating, the CHI
promoters of honest government an
the supporters of human libert.
and the propaganda of the rule
the people through which God rule
the nations. They teach in essent