The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-01-01


well immediately and lock him pp.
He Is making q great big blum. He's
q bigger man than you are, and that's
why you are afraid Of him. =. s.: ~ 5 s.
They conversed In whispers as I got
into my clothes. ....8+ 5.l.
"Oflcers," said, solemnly, do your
duty. If Bradwell is innocent he will
have his revenge upon those who have
accused him, and you will be absolved.
II guilty and he IS guilty! you will
have covered yourselves with glory as
men of honor, the protectors OF fam
lilies. guardians OF the peace
They went away shaking their heads,
but came back within half an hour to
tell me that Bradwell was safe in Jail.
pulled myself together, thanked my
stars that the shotgun was out Of the
way. and went down to eat hearty
breakfast. noticed number Of re-
porters lowering with each other over
the story in my paper. All were stran-
gers to me personally, SO kept. at
distance. On looking over the various
New York papers 1 learned the cause
of their woe; they had not more than
few brief paragraphs about the muir
der, and all belittling the crime. had
scored the beat of my life. .....
had not been out in the street look
ing fer my friend, ex-Sheriff Watts,
more than half an hour when tele-
gram was handed to me. 1t was from
my city editor and read: s..-
REPORT at this Office Immediately;
Mr.. Atone will relieve you"
OF course that meant trouble in
camp. When4I got back to the Office
there was time with the old man"
The man who passed the story was the
night editor himself, so that relieved
the city desk. He was put in straight
jacket forthwith. was sent to COW
entry. My crime was too great to be
condoned, Notwithstanding + valiantly
asserted that I would hand In my resig-
nation to take effect the instant Brad
well was released an innocent man.
"And what good would your resigna-
ton do us?" screamed the city. editor,
stamping about the room like wild
bull. 1--WE are to be sued for 100000
damages! Your resignation Your
resignation! The papers ruined,
ruined!" 2 - s.eSs's@
I tell you the excitement was high.
AS for the poor assistant city editor
who had sent me on the murder-well.
he was the next thing to being tarred
and feathered. He was the deepest
dyed villain Of all, for If he had but
waited two hours the city editor him
self would have been ON the desk, and
he would have sent an experienced re-
porter-not mere beginner:
The other papers, taking up the
story where I had left of, published
columns and columns about it, every
day for week, while my own with
drew its accusation against Bradwelf,
apologized to him from day to day, and
gave him $500 to withdraw his libel
suit. .l
The trial soon followed. .Bradwell,
by jury OF his peers, was convicted
Of murder in the second degree and
sentenced to- states prison for liffak liz,
He is at Trenton now, serving His
term. -.
OF course I have used fictitious
names here. But the story is as true
as gospel, and will be recognized BY
residents of the little village 81 miles
from New York as well as by dozen
old-time reporters and by some editors
who may be reading newspapers by
celestial light.
OF course I was duly forgiven. It
was good lesson, and that got out
on top was possibly not altogether due
to my own shrewdness, but to that
bully good luck that sometimes sticks
up for fellow who does his best.-N.
Y. Times.