p. 16 | A Retraction by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 29, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 35.

A Retraction

By Editor

A Retraction.—The Catholic Mirror retracts its comment on the alleged "death-bed confession" of Rev. J. George Gibson, which was noted in this paper a short time ago. Here is what the editor says in the Mirror of July 28:—

"The Rev. J. George Gibson, of San Francisco, wishes us to let it be known that he is still alive, and that the rumor of his confession of guilt of the crime for which Theodore Durrant was hanged is utterly false. The yellow journalism of San Francisco scored a decided 'scoop' in that case. The Associated Press gave wide circulation to the report, but we are not aware that the same agency took any pains to contradict it when the truth became known. The Mirror published a comment upon the alleged confession, our credence in the report being founded upon the confidence we had in Catholic papers, which, being near the spot, had opportunity for verifying matter before publication."

In this case the "yellow journalism of San Francisco" must have consisted of a concoction for publication at a distance, as we had not seen or heard of the matter until it appeared in the Mirror (published in Baltimore).