Page 6A, March 11, 2020, Catahoula News Booster The publisher’s ink & the judge’s blood by Stanley Nelson

Newspapers played somewhat affected by so a crucial role in chroni- many scandalous charges, cling and influencing the as had been published in early years of American the defendant's newspa- government in Natchez. per, that something was When the French, British not produced in evidence and Spanish held Nat- which would at least cast chez, there were no local a shade over your charac- newspapers. ter." Just as important to He added: "In the this new U.S. territory argument of the cause were the judges who the defendant's counsel were appointed by the did not pretend to have President. proved the truth of the Newspapers were matter charged as libel- privately established at ous, but rested the de- the expense of the pub- fense of their client on the lishers who depended on latitude which ought to the legal advertising from be given to the liberty of government to survive. A the press, and the propri- judicial system and a free ety of taking, by means of press are vital to any so- the press, a wide range in ciety. But what happens scrutinizing the conduct when the two collide? of public agents." Different publishers One well-respected and editors came and left citizen said Poindexter Natchez but few were as WHEN Territory Judge George Poindexter used his walking cane to beat newspaper publish- came through the pro- outspoken and controver- ceedings as "a fair man" er Andrew Marschalk in 1815 at the territorial capital of Washington six miles east of Natchez, it created a sial as Andrew Marschalk. after having "been sub- In 1814 and 1815, the ed- political firestorm. The most famous caning in U.S. history occurred in 1856 in the chamber of the U.S. Sen- jected to such a rigid ex- itor and a judge -- George ate (above) when Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina savagely beat U.S. Senator Charles Sumner amination, embracing Poindexter -- were at war of Massachusetts over a speech Sumner gave against slavery. (Credit: John L. Magee lithograph) every transaction for a with one another. published over the years. When Marschalk -- particularly, was assailed taining a ... false, scandal- period of fourteen or fif- At the outset, the first In 1815, he was publish- said to resemble Benja- week after week, in the ous and libelous matter." teen years." governor of the Missis- ing the “Washington Re- min Franklin -- began to most aggravating style." Marschalk's office was Claiborne said the trial sippi Territory, Winthrop publican,” based in the escalate his attacks on Although Poindexter located within view of acquitted Poindexter of Sargent, realized the need territorial capital located Poindexter, the hothead- was often attacked, he the courthouse and while many charges made by for a printing press when six miles east of Natchez. ed native Virginian didn't continued to advance po- court was in session one Marschalk in “The Repub- he first arrived in Natchez Marschalk was re- sit still. Soon, Poindexter litically. He had served as day he did an incredible lican” "of the calumnies in 1798. While he lament- membered as a gregar- took on the publisher/ Attorney General, served thing. He carried copies by which he (Poindexter) ed the need for judges, he ious man, friendly and editor who as a newspa- two terms in Congress of his paper, hot off the had been assailed since also wrote the Secretary easy to approach. He had perman with a printing as a Representative, and press, containing the "li- his residence in the Ter- of State: black hair and brown eyes press bought ink by the was appointed judge in belous" letter and walked ritory. His temperament "We have no printing but his face was pock- barrel. The 19th century 1808. into the courtroom while and indiscretion, as well offices in this country, marked with scars from a Mississippi historian John Claiborne said Poin- court was in session and as the decided part he we are remote from all disease that killed many F. H. Claiborne, himself a dexter "displayed on the Poindexter presiding. had taken in politics, had others." A small press, he -- smallpox. He took sides former newspaperman bench the same ability, The editor distributed exposed him to miscon- said, "would be a bless- on political issues and and editor, summed up acuteness and capacity copies of the paper to ju- ceptions and misrepre- ing to the people of the George Poindexter was the difficulties for any for labor that had distin- rors. Then he walked over sentations. But on the territory." Sargent need- often the target of scath- public person taking on guished him in Congress, to the bench and placed trial he challenged an in- ed someone to print the ing and venomous arti- the press: but his appointment dis- a copy there "so as to quest, and after four days new American laws to be cles. The two men had a "The individual who pleased his old enemies, attract the notice of the of active effort, prompted enacted in the territory as great personal dislike for engages in a controversy and they used the col- court." Poindexter was by a host of enemies, they well as public notices. one another. with the conductor of a umns of the ‘Republican’ outraged. failed to establish any one Back then, there were What fueled the ex- newspaper encounters very freely against him." Poindexter said Mar- of the countless slanders no television cameras, no isting tension even more fearful odds. No matter Those "columns" to schalk's goal was to in- floating about in the com- radio stations, no tele- was a in 1811 in how just his quarrel, or which Claiborne were ar- sult him and his "honor munity." graph, no telephones, no which Poindexter shot great his abilities, the ad- ticles similar to a "letter and integrity" as a judge, JUDGE ATTACKS THE Internet. If you didn't get , a prominent vantages are with his op- to the editor" today with adding that the "dignity of EDITOR news by word of mouth businessman and political ponent, who can always the exception that the the court was directly and But Marschalk, then or letter, you got it exclu- opponent of Poindexter's. have the last word, and most slanderous and out- flagrantly assailed in a 48, continued his attacks sively in the local newspa- On the Concordia dueling is more or less regarded rageous charges would manner which imperious- on Poindexter, then 36, per. grounds just north of the as the guardian of the be made. If the writer re- ly demanded the inflic- until finally Poindexter's When the Spanish Vidalia riverfront, Poin- public welfare. The writ- mained anonymous, the tion of legal punishment temper got the best of were preparing to trans- dexter emerged victori- er may be malignant and newspaper took respon- commensurate with the him. After reading anoth- fer possession of Natchez ous, shooting Hunt in the unjust, wholly influenced sibility for whatever was offence." er article in “The Repub- to the American govern- gut. Hunt fired, too, but by personal or party re- printed. The judge brought lican” that he deemed ment, a soldier named missed while Poindexter's sentments, or even by Poindexter was ac- Marschalk before his libelous against him, he Andrew Marschalk from shot was accurate. Hunt mercenary motives, but cused of raping the court and asked him why walked across the street New York came south to died. the people have been ed- daughter of a Chickasaw he shouldn't be charged to the door of Marschalk's Walnut Hills (Vicksburg) Though it was a fair ucated to regard him as Indian agent, and of dis- with contempt. With office and with his cane with the second detach- fight there would be their representative and gracing himself during the his attorney by his side, beat the daylights out of ment of U.S. troops. A claims later that Poin- champion, and the major- on Marschalk refused to an- the newspaper editor. veteran of the Revolu- dexter fired "before the ity are always sure to side January 1, 1815. Such al- swer any questions so the Marschalk com- tionary War as a member word" to "fire" was given. with him, especially if the legations would normally judge sentenced the edi- plained, a warrant was of the Continental Army, Marschalk flamed these antagonist be one whose be devastating to a poli- tor to 24 hours in prison, filed and Poindexter Marschalk's true love was allegations in his news- talents or virtues have tician even if untrue, but a $20 fine and required charged and released. printing. paper and also reported made him obnoxious to Poindexter survived. Clai- "security for his good be- In time, the matter In 1790, while in En- other stories from Poin- the base and envious." borne pointed to a letter havior." went away. gland, he bought a small dexter's opponents, some EDITOR ASSAILS POIN- Poindexter received from After serving his time Eight wrote mahogany press in Lon- of which were untrue. DEXTER the adjutant general of Marschalk appeared be- a letter to Judge Poin- don. When he journeyed ATTACKS ON THE JUDGE In May 1811, just one the army: fore the bench the next dexter showing their down the Mississippi to No one was surprised month before Poindexter "I am sorry to notice in day and told the judge, support. This was proof, the South, he brought that Poindexter fought shot Hunt in the duel, ru- a Natchez paper remarks "I thank your honor for said Claiborne, "of his the press with him. Folks back and fought hard. His mors began to swirl that (about you) ... I ought the sentence," and said ability and integrity on in Natchez heard about reputation for confronta- Poindexter had beaten a certainly to know the ser- he would pay the fine the bench," and evi- Marschalk and his print- tion was well known. He widow out of money, but vices you rendered our because "I meant a con- dence that the judge ing press and urged him had not only killed Hunt, they were not true. division, when I had you tempt" of Poindexter's "was not the monster to come down the river. but he came close to du- Wrote Claiborne: "This on my roster, and detailed court. that (he) was represent- Marschalk recalled eling with others. He got is but a sample of the an- you, in rotation, for night Poindexter's temper ed to be." Claiborne years afterward: "Great into a fistfight in Natchez noyances by which he services and all other du- boiled. He sued Mar- added that a "good and excitement was caused with a man named Thom- (Poindexter) was assailed. ties required. You relieved schalk for printing those honest judge cannot in Natchez by the knowl- as Percy, whom Poindex- His enemies were numer- us of much hard duty many articles that the have been a bad and edge of a press being in ter believed had slept ous, violent and impla- during this siege." judge labeled as "libel" dishonest man." the country, and strong with his wife. cable. He was dogged by EDITOR, JUDGE IN and during a four-day Although he had inducements were held Poindexter threat- calumnies from the mo- COURT trial many of the rumors support, he also had en- out for me to remove to ened to kill Percy but af- ment he left Virginia, and But Judge Poindex- alleged in Marschalk's emies who hated him as that place." ter years of jawing, Percy to the last hour of his life ter, soon to return to paper were scrutinized in much as Poindexter hat- When the territorial moved away and the con- he was thus pursued." Congress by the vote of court. ed them. legislature was organized, flict died out. But so con- Marschalk's newspa- the people, wrote to the The presiding judge "Mr. Poindexter's Marschalk was hired as vinced was Poindexter of per, said Claiborne, "bit- Speaker of the House, -- -- told temper and associations the official printer. A short the affair, he disowned his terly opposed George noting that Marschalk Poindexter afterward: perpetually involved time later, Marschalk was son, Albert, thinking that Poindexter and many of had recently "published "Indeed it was a matter him in altercations, and printing a newspaper, one the boy was the child of his personal and political an anonymous letter, ad- of much surprise to many, in newspaper contro- of several he edited and Percy. friends. Judge Poindexter, dressed to myself, con- whose minds had been versies," said Claiborne.