THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1358, 15 March 1881, Page 2

THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

During the past few days an UD*- or t una t e man, named Palmer, has b; den arrested, charged with stealing *, wa t c h t and it has been industrious!'; circulated by certain people that **,' 1S man occupied the post of travelling reporter on the staff of this J 0l Yrnal. Tlie object which is kept in view in spreading this story is hard tv discover, and might not perhaps reward the finder for his pains if it were discovered ; but we may presume it is intended to injure the reputation of this paper. We are the more inclined to accept this solution because it argues that we have a character to lose, and with many people this commodity is by no means plentiful. But admitting that Palmer was a member of our staff, and that he is guilty of the charge laid to him, there is nothing very dreadful in the affair ! We do not think the dignity of the newspaper press stands in so much danger at the hands of a thief as it does from certain other atoms of humanity — a liar, for instance, or an habitual drunkard ! Palmer may be entirely innocent of the offence of stealing — and not having parted with all the Christian charity which is born with everyone of us, we sincerely hope to find him so, — but we can tell those of our readers (they are very few) who would be likely to think hardly of us for having a suspected man in our employment, that he never was a reporter for the Waikato Times. The facts of the cas^ m ay be very briefly told. Paling who is a man somewhat ad v»j lCe( i j n years, at one time occupied a good position on the New Zealand press, but lately he has met with reverses, and has been out of employment for some months. He arrived in the Waikato a few weeks ago, and went as far as Cambridge, where he nought out the only person known to him, to whom he had been introduced by a common friend in Wellington, and asked for assistance. He was, however, roughly repulsed, and threatened with all the terrors of the law it he dared to come begging again. Disheartened with such treatment at the hands of one from whom he expected a little consideration, Palmer found his way to Hamilton, and to this office. A member of the staff who was only casually acquainted with him, lent him a small sum of money, which was supplemented a few days afterwards by a further loan. Through the kind offices of the same gentleman, Palmer was offered by the Proprietary of this paper, in order to assist him, a certain price for two or three descriptive articles, which, however, have not been received. "Cincinatus,"we need hardly tell our readers, is not to be identified with Mr Palmer. We have written these few lines for the purpose of setting the truth before our readers : it is with regret that we find that our purpose c»u not be effected without a reference, however shadowy, to persons to whom notoriety, for lack of fame, is very sweet, and who, rather than be neglected, would court abuse. So far as we are concerned, neglect is all they will get in the future, though the abuse which it is their nature to scatter broadcast, be never so scurrilous.