A DANGEROUS NEWSPAPER WAR.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1059, 1 April 1873, Page 4

A DANGEROUS NEWSPAPER WAR.

The elections in the States have set the papers by the ears to an almost unprecedented extent, hut there have not been many shooting, stabbing, or clubbing affairs so far. Still, enough had been done in this way to remind the Memphis Appeal of a violent controversy which was expected to end in bloodshed but did not. It arose from a difference of opinion in regard to a matter of purely local interest. The discussion was carried on in the columns of two journals then published in that city, one edited by Mr Bankhead, and the other by Mr Taney. Both editors were away at the time, and each one had engaged a substitute to fill the editorial chair during his absence. The public became greatly interested in the controversy, which grew hotter and hotter with each succeeding day, and crowds daily gathered round the newspaper offices in the expectation of witnessing bloodshed in case to furious writers should happen to meet. The news of what was going on reached the absent editors, and they hurried home, each think his substitute was in danger of his life. They found popular excitement at fever heat, but were relieved from all anxiety in regard to consequences on discovering that, unknown to each other, they had engaged the same man to officiate editorially in their absence —an able and enterprising young lawyer, who had been conducting both sides of the venomous controversy with a degree of vigour only equalled by his impartiality. It is needless to say that no duel grew out of this discussion.