Setting the Record Straight on a Mount Vernon 'Brawl'
A local business leader defends his reputation against false reports of a deadly saloon fight.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
To The Editor: The dispatch in the issue of the Post-Intelligencer from Mount Vernon headed 'A Fatal Saloon Brawl' was almost entirely untrue. George Addington did not fell Iwan Peterson with a billiard cue, nor is Peterson fatally wounded, nor was Addington put in jail, not even having been placed in custody, as he made voluntary appearance and gave bonds for hearing. Peterson is a man of intemperate habits and had been on a spree all day. He entered the place of business of Addington and by abusive language stirred up a row, with the result that he got the worst of it. He is now around, and aside from the usual results of a fight, is all right. There were no weapons of any kind used, nor was Peterson seriously injured. George B. Addington is the pioneer in the shingle business of this county, having built the first shingle mill at Edison. He is an honored and respected citizen, who has the support of the entire community in this attack upon his character.
“George Addington is the pioneer in the shingle business of this county... He is an honored and respected citizen, who has the support of the entire community.”
This letter highlights the enduring tension between yellow journalism and personal reputation. Even in 1893, local citizens were fighting back against sensationalized 'fake news' that threatened their business standing in the community.
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