Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-19

never to attempt to be funny" with
newspaper again. The law regarding
such cases is plain and complete. 1t
is found in Section of Chapter 100 of
the Revised Statutes of 1908, and reads
as follows:
"Whoever wilfulIy or malicIousIy
states, delivers or transmits by any
means whatever to the manager, edi-
tor, publisher or reporter Of any news
paper, magazine, publication, periodical
or serial, for publication therein, any
false or iibelous statement concerning
any person or corporation, and thereby
secures the actual publication Of the
same, shall, upon conviction thereof,
be punished by fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars, or by imprisonment
not exceeding one year, or by both fine
and imprisonment"
In both of the cases to which we re-
fer, the Journal published among its
news from towns in eastern kennebec
county, items which were innocent
enough upon their face but which were
really very embarrassing and unjust
to the persons mentioned. The state
ments in the items were not only
false, but underneath them was also
petty malice which would be apparent
only to parties knowing the circum-
stances. When complaint was made
to this office regarding the items IN
question the matter was promptly
looked into. Since all the copy re-
ceived here is carefully saved for
many weeks before being destroyed.
The original letters were both found,
and although the signatures were
found in both cases to be assumed
names, a little detective work in the
reighborhood from which the letters
came disclosed who the writer's were.
When confronted with the evidence
Of their guilt they both confessed,
since there was nothing else for them
to do, made ample apology and paid
the bills. We should be justified IN
adding to their humiliation and pun
ishment by publishing their names
and telling the full circumstances in
the cases. This we refrain from do
ing, but do not promise to be equally
merciful in the future.
We make this statement to let our
. readers know that we are ready to
follow up and punish any one sending
false or malicious items to us for pub
lication. Such a course is not only
for our own protection, but also for the
protection of the public and friends OF
the paper whom we do not propose to
have lied about or imposed upon
through our columns.
We have large force Of CORE
spondents Throughout all the towns in
this part of the State, and these we
know to be reliable. Other persons
who are net correspondents often send
lle.iiS IA IlcMS " us anu ltltSc we Sllu-
ly welcome, providing the items are
sent in good faith and are signed by
the writer's name as a guarantee of
this But if any reader OF tho Jour-
nal, or anybody else for that matter,
wants to be funny" at the expense of
somebody in his neighborhood, Or has
a grudge against anybody which he
wants to work off in print under an
apparently innocent disguise, let him
think twice before sending an item to
this paper. There is ample law, as
quoted above, to punish such cases,
and the two offenders referred to, both
of whom We're young women Of good
standing in their communities, were
dealt with more lightly than similar
offenders will he likely to he dealt with
in the future.