Herald of Freedom (Boston newspaper)
Encyclopedia
The Herald of Freedom or Herald of Freedom and the Federal Advertiser was a newspaper published in Boston
, Massachusetts
, in the late 18th century by Edmund Freeman
, Loring Andrews, and John Howel.
In 1790-1791 the paper "was engaged in the first libel-suit tried in Massachusetts after the Revolution, ... for a savage attack on a member of the Legislature," John Gardiner. The Herald's printer, Edmund Freeman was "charged ... with publishing in his paper ... a most ... scandalous and malicious libel." "The libel complained of, charged Mr. Gardiner, with the atrocious murder of his late excellent lady [Margaret Harries], by cruelty." On February 3, 1790, "at 12, o'clock, at noon" Freeman "was taken into custody, by virtue of a warrant from Mr. Justice Crafts." "The case was decided in favor of the newspaper. Harrison Gray Otis
, one of the most brilliant men of his day, was counsel for the editor."
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the late 18th century by Edmund Freeman
Edmund Freeman (printer)
Edmund Freeman was a printer and publisher in Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 18th-century. He published the Boston Magazine and the Herald of Freedom newspaper...
, Loring Andrews, and John Howel.
In 1790-1791 the paper "was engaged in the first libel-suit tried in Massachusetts after the Revolution, ... for a savage attack on a member of the Legislature," John Gardiner. The Herald's printer, Edmund Freeman was "charged ... with publishing in his paper ... a most ... scandalous and malicious libel." "The libel complained of, charged Mr. Gardiner, with the atrocious murder of his late excellent lady [Margaret Harries], by cruelty." On February 3, 1790, "at 12, o'clock, at noon" Freeman "was taken into custody, by virtue of a warrant from Mr. Justice Crafts." "The case was decided in favor of the newspaper. Harrison Gray Otis
Harrison Gray Otis (lawyer)
Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
, one of the most brilliant men of his day, was counsel for the editor."
Further reading
- From the Centinel. Proceedings on the Examination of the Printer of the Herald. Herald of Freedom, Date: 02-12-1790
- Massachusetts. Boston, February 1. Vermont Journal, and the Universal Advertiser; Date: 02-17-1790.
- [Account of the trial]. Herald of Freedom; Date: 03-04-1791.
- Supreme Judicial Court; trial for a libel: Commonwealth vs. Freeman. Herald of Freedom; Date: 03-11-1791
- Trial for a Libel. Middlesex Gazette (Connecticut); Date: 03-26-1791
- Joseph Tinker Buckingham. Specimens of newspaper literature: with personal memoirs, anecdotes, and reminiscences, Volume 1. Redding and Co., 1852. Google books