AN AMERICAN EDITOR'S DANGERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1120, 18 February 1885, Page 4

AN AMERICAN EDITOR'S DANGERS.

The "Evening Standard" says:— Before a man Bhoots a journalist for writing articles about him it is really nothing but commonly fair to the writer that the person with whom they deal should read them with care. The pistol is still a favorite form of argument in San Francisco, and with it at the end of last month a tnan named Spreckles shot Mr De Young, who, since his brother was murdered by a political opponent two or three years ago, has been proprietor of tbe San Francisco " Chronicle." The late Mr De Young was shot and fatally wounded, but the more recent victim may possibly recover, though his wound is described as very dangerous. Spreckles, who imagined that he had been maligned in the " Chronicle," armed himself with a heavy Colt's navy revolver— which be could use with wonderful accuracy, being able to snuff a candle at ten paces — and called on tbe editor. He aimed at the heart; but as Mr De Young sat at bis table he held in his hand some children's picture books, that bad been sent for review, and this deflected the bullet. A second bullet passed through the books, which, to some extent, deadened its force. By both, however, Mr De Young was severely wounded. Spreckles was charged with attempted murder, but a benevolent magistracy let him out on bail. " A more careful reading of the articles which incited Spreckles to do the shooting confirms the belief that there was nothing in them to justify the attempt." Spreckles misunderstood tbeir drift, and acted upon the misunderstanding, which was certainly hard on the writer.