150 YEARS AGO

Sept. 8, 1876

A newspaper, properly conducted, is a public not a private organ. That is, it aims to serve public interests and not merely private interests.

An editor should be thoroughly impartial. He should be pre-emintently just. On the tripod, like the judge of the bench, he should know no friend and no enemy. He should fairly censure the one when duty prompts it and should as freely award praise to the other when merit wins it.

Too often in our earlier experience in this county were we shocked by the purposes for this the public press was prostituted.

Reform is necessary in Branch Township, and in the interest of reform, County Attorney Reed was called out there last week.

David McLaurin was arraigned before his honor, Esquire E. Munger, on a charge of assault and battery upon her whom he had promised to love, cherish, and protect.

It was a breach of a promise of a kind that his honor deemed worth $25, and he assigned the defendant that sum.

Complaint also was made against the same belligerent gentleman for threatened assault upon his stepdaughter, Phoebe.

Let there be peace in Branch.

We have heard a few persons of little faith express doubts at times about this being a fruit county.

“Uncle” Will Billings brought to this office Wednesday a basket of apples such as were calculated to dispel such doubts aforesaid.

There were very large and fine indeed.