The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-01-26
UP AGAINST III AGAIN.

Our young co-laborer in the jour-
nalistic vinyard, Howard Mooney, who
steers the destiny of the CheSaw News,
hardly feels comfortable unless ne has
"a damage suit hanging over his head.
And he is print of such fat bank
account that those who 90 afr HIM
for metallic salve for injured feelings
generally hold out for punches of thou
sands. Knowing Mr. Mooney person
ally it is not felt that he would inten-
tionally Smirch the character of any
ft How citizen. If he gets in bad it is
purely through accident, but accident
ooes not prevent the filing of damage
Suits So far Mr.. Mooney has escaped
Icing compelled to draw on his surplus
bank account to meet judgments, but
such good lcuk cannot always be
counted on. The latest trouble of this
nature coming his way was from care
less juggling with the name of Allen.
This is not an uncommon name in this
county, and any one whose acquaint-
ance is not extensive might fall into
the same error. A person named Allen
living in the Methow valley, has come
into some prominence in the county
through an accusation of having COM
llited murder. Mr.. Mooney mad oc-
casion to mention the case recently
through the columns of the News. and
hy an unhappy inadvertancy referred
to the suspect as big Foot" Allen.
Now, there is an Allen in the county,
long residing near Wanicut lake gen.
orally known by this appellatiOn. but
as to committing murder, or any other
crime. big Foot" Allen could be no
more suspicioned than Mr.. Mooney
himself. The western people are a
jocular lot, and have nomenclature
OF their own. They do not hesitate to
afYix to the names of acquaintances
some handle that is suggested by per-
scnal peculiarities, habits or residence,
such, for instance, as Tamarack Jack,
Rattlesnake Dick, Suffering Bob,
Whiskey Pete, and so on ad infinitum.
In early days, Harry Allen, pioneer
Of the county known from Brewster to
the International line, was christianed,
amidst foaming libations, with the So
briquet of big Foot" 1t was not at
tached to him in derision, although he
may have left tracks in the snow as
large as a barn door, but as a distinc-
ton from other Aliens, who were also
srrsslied with ornamental designations.
no one but the rude and thoughtless
ever applied the name to him, although
his identity was generally so estab-
lished in his absence when the name
Allen was used, yet he took it good
naturedly, for in quiet way Mr.. Allen
is somewhat of jOsher himself. But
as stated early in this screed. Mr.. Al
len is law abiding citizen, steady,
Industrious, the father of large fam
lily and a pleasant individual to know.
Hence he was naturally miffed when
his attention was called to the item
in the News, and being at times hasty
and an intimatiOn that ne was a
murderer you'd be sufficient to arouse
the protest of almost any man-Mr.
Allen may have declared his intention
t. appeal to the court for redress. AS
q disinterested locker on. knowing
both Mr.. Mooney and Mr.. Allen, the
kindness and generosity of the one.
the honesty and responsibility of the
other, the editor of the Gazette feels
that he can assure Mr.. Allen that Mr..
Mooney had no intention to reflect upT
on his character, and that he woul
rot Intentionally misrepresent any cit
Z izen of the county, hence it would b
better for all concerned that no NOR
should be said about the unfortunate
mistake, unless Mr.. Mooney elects t
explain to his readers that he had gu
off wrong on names.