An Editor Pleads Not Guilty to Calling Out a Police Chief
Charles H. Lugrin of the Telegraph faced libel charges for reporting that Seattle's police chief took gambling money — and the judge warned him not to comment further.
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.
Charles H. Lugrin, editor of the Telegraph, appeared in the police court yesterday afternoon in person and entered a plea of not guilty to the information charging him with libel in saying that Bolton Rogers, chief of police, took money from the gamblers. After the plea had been entered, Judge Glasgow took occasion to tell Mr. Lugrin that he must not make any comment in his paper on the case during the time it was in the hands of the court. The judge referred specially to the editorial published the day after the motion for a change of venue had been refused, and said that the editorial did not proceed on a basis of fair law. Before Mr. Lugrin left the courtroom he thanked the judge for the favors he had extended as to setting the time for different hearings, etc. Attorney Allen appeared with a letter from Prosecuting Attorney Miller, requesting that his name be entered as an attorney in the case. The judge, however, thought that Mr. Miller should appear in person and make the motion.
“Mr. Lugrin ... must not make any comment in his paper on the case during the time it was in the hands of the court.”
A newspaper editor prosecuted for accusing Seattle’s police chief of taking gambling money — then told by a judge to stop commenting — captures a familiar fight over police accountability and press freedom. The case is a reminder that public corruption allegations often moved through libel court rather than internal review.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.