Page:Newspaper writing and editing.djvu/51

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or at her country house, as the city editor knew that she was not accompanying the mayor on his trip abroad.

The third news association bulletin, or "flash," gave these facts concerning the assassin:


The man who shot the mayor has been arrested. His name is James J. Gallagher. He lives at No. 440 Third Ave.


The city editor thereupon gave a reporter this assignment. "Go up there; get all you can about him. Get a picture. Find out to what political party he belongs. Run him to the ground and phone me later; I may be able to give you something additional." To another reporter the city editor said: "Gallagher is to be arraigned in the police headquarters in Hoboken; go over there quickly."

The next bulletin opened up a new phase of the subject, the motive for the crime:


Gallagher was a night watchman in the dock department until July 1, when he was discharged from the city employ.


After the reporter who had been sent out to get the history of Gallagher telephoned that Gallagher had been a disgruntled employee of the city who had been constantly writing letters of complaint to his superiors, the city editor assigned a reporter to get the facts, saying: "Gallagher was a chronic kicker. Go down to the Department of Docks and to the Civil Service Commission and get copies of all the correspondence."

A reporter was sent to see John Purroy Mitchel, the acting mayor, another to find out the city charter provisions regarding a possible vacancy in the office of mayor under such circumstances. A rewrite man was told to get from the office collection of biographical sketches, or "morgue," the material on file concerning the life of the mayor and to write an obituary. A tip