"ROBBING THE DEAD."

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 124, 14 July 1871, Page 5

"ROBBING THE DEAD."

Our readers will remember the republication in our issue of the 30th ult. of a letter wnich appeared in the ' Evening Star' of the 12th, accompanied by a correspondence which had taken place between the Commissioner of Police and Mr. Michael Brookes of this town. This publication has called forth the subjoined advertisement and explanation from the editor of the 1 Star.' We are glad to find that the 'Star,' while anxious as legitimate journalists to do its duty to the public, will not allow its columns to be made the vehicle of mean spite and wrongful vengeance against private individuals, and we trust, therefore, that the reward offered by the proprietor of the ' Star' and an additional £lO by the police officer in charge, JNaseby will have the effect of bringing this miserable scrawler and forger— pro bom publico —within the reach of the law : TEN POUNDS UEWA.KI). A lettke, signed tVtichal Brojks, miner, Hogbum, requesting, for the s.ike of several miners, die iusertion in the ' Evening Star ' of a letter headed " liobbing the Dead," which there is reason to believe is a forgery, the above reward will be paid to any person giving such information of the writer as to lead to his conviction.

A.v Explanation.— A. short time since we published a letter under the heading " Robbing the Dead." The allegations contained grave charges against the police, which we should not have published had it not been that, our >luty as jomnalists was to bring the matter under public notice. The letter complied with the usual rule of supplying the name and address of the water, with the distinct promise that if necessary the writer " would come forward and pvove what he stated." We are informed that the subject has bee.* twice strictly enquired into; that the allegations are utterly untrue; and that no person of the name attached to the letter is to be found in the district excepting a very respectable storekeeper, who denies having written it. While we regret having been made the means of giving publicity' to a statement which from the explanations giren we believe is wholly untrue, we fpel it. our duty not the less to prosecute to the utmost anyone who has been guilty of go infamous a crime as to a mime and address for the purpose apparently of gratifying private pique. It is necessary for public purposes that the press should make any wrong public, but it is equally necessary that every statement should be true. The public are equally interested with ourselves in securing the integrity of the press, and though we offer a reward of £lO for such information as will lead us to convict so despicable a seoundrel, we feel that the crime is so heinous that every assistance will be given to enable us to convict the offender.