The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-19
The Scope of the Press.

Liberty" but there should be no
misconception in the Interpretation
of this patriotic prohouncement.
The press, unlike individuals, may
indulge in a scope or latitude III re
porting news, or in edltcraA OF
general comments which is circum-
scribed only by the well defined pre-
cepts of law.
There is a Iimitless difference be-
tween the liberty of the press and
the license of the press.
The press which is licentious and
reckless, which is malignant and
slanderous, which WSuld defame
and destroy enterprises or would
blast character, can have no stand
ing in a community of self-respect-
ing law-abiding citizens, and is
fully liable in law.
The press, applied in the singular
sense, the newspaper that is Gan
derGus OF libelous, is not only amen
able to law, but the author Of the
SANDER or the libel, or the respon7
sible man of the concern may be
held to a personal account.
But if the newspaper be liable For
such offendings, which is of very
rare occurrence, the newspaper
mIsi also be protected from legal
proceedings for damages on allega-
tioy.s having no basis for equity. :
Fer illustration: The Shreveport
Times has been cited into court to
defend itself against claim of
$1,000 instigated by Detective j. G.
Arlington, for alleged defamation
of his character, arising from a
news report in which he was daubed
"a fly cop" and "a bonehead." 1t
may be conceded that such cognO-
men are not classically edifying, but
as slang, suggested in a spirit OF
popularity, are common expressions
among ball players andOsports and
have no special significance of dis
credit, unless so construed by the
individual concerned whether he be
policeman, detective or an Of
ficer of the law, sport or a citizen
who by any of his public acts may
draw this criticism upon himself.
The contention which led to this
proceeding to recover $1,000 as a
solace to the feelings of this detec-
tive, arose in his arrest of J. C. Wal
lis at the Inn Hotel without a war
rant, and also the arrest without a
warrant Of S. w. Tullos, the man
ager of the Inn, whose only offense
was in demonstrating against the
arrest of Wallis while on his own
premises. without authority of law.
This action of itself was an out
rage which can not be defended rea-
sonably.
The law is plain: Except in CASE
Of felony, or On witnessing the GRIM
inal act, it is essential that war;
rant shall be procured to make the
arrest of the person charged with
the Offense, especially if it be in the
order of a misdemeanor.
In the trail of this case it was de-
velOped that one of the customs at
the police headquarters of long
standing is to arrest and hold In
the city Jail. on charge of being
fugitive from justice, of any person
who may be suspected Of crime, and
after the unfortunate, frequently
without friends or means, has been
held in durance vile several days he
is released with an apology as an
explanation of such illegal and I'M
warranted arrest.
This proceeding was conducted
with marked ability by Hon. w. H.
Scheen for the plaintiff and Hon.
Leon r. Smith for the Times, and
the jury, after having heard the
able charge by Judge Bell, returned
q verdict for the defendant.
This verdict by ten of the jury
was not unexpected. 1t was respon-
sive to the issue involved in the
case. Two of the jurors favored a
money compensation, one for $50
and the other for $25, but such a
verdict would have had the effect of
encouraging such legal proceedings
on the part of any one taking Of
Tense at any news report or editorial
reference in any of the newspapers
of Shreveport.
In this contention there was in
volved the vital liberty of the press.
Indeed. press, muzzled in its APP
of suits for damages,
and probably Incarceration of its
editors and reporters in Jail for Civ
ing publicity to facts, would nullify
and destroy the usefulness of pub
Lefty, especially when it is directed
to matters and things in which all
the people are concerned, and whenl
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