Reporting for the Newspapers

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901. Excerpt: ... VI. EVIDENCE: HOW WRITTEN COURT evidence is reported in various ways, and the fullness with which it is written up depends upon the importance of the case from a news standpoint; and this importance depends upon the human interest involved. There are times when the evidence is taken verbatim, and others when the merest outline is necessary. As an illustration take the following portion of the evidence which came up before a Senate investigating committee in New York City, and the manner in which various newspapers treated it in print. Police Commissioner Sheehan was on the stand, examined by lawyer (now Recorder) John W. Goff. The evidence herewith given is verbatim and is a copy of the record of the court stenographer. EVIDENCE Question. Did you ever say that the escape of Katie Schubert was made possible by collusion? Answer. To be candid with you, Mr. GofF, I will tell that the day before she sailed I read in the papers that she was in Jersey City, and I said in the Board meeting that I thought she would never return to be a witness. Q. Did it strike you as peculiar that she was allowed to depart without testifying against Inspector McLaughlin? A. It certainly did. During the trials of Captains Cross and Devery I tried to bring out in her testimony the case against McLaughlin. Q. You considered it a failure of justice? A. In what respect? Q. Why, a failure to prosecute a police officer on the testimony of a woman in your jurisdiction? A. My associates acted honestly, on the advice of counsel for the Board, that the evidence against Inspector McLaughlin was not sufficient to convict. Q. The evidence of Katie Schubert incriminated Captains Cross and Devery and Inspector McLaughlin. You say counsel advised the Board it was not prudent to put Inspector McL...