When a journalist maligns a citizen, or attacks his good name on hearsay evidence, he deserves to be thrashed for it, even if he is a “non-combatant” weakling
 Mark Twain, Roughing It (1872). copy citation

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Author Mark Twain
Source Roughing It
Topic evidence attack
Date 1872
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3177/3177-h/3177-h.htm

Context

“[It does seem a pity that the Sheriff was shut out, since the good sense of a general of militia and of a prominent editor failed to teach them that the merited castigation of this weak, half-witted child was a thing that ought to have been done in the street, where the poor thing could have a chance to run. When a journalist maligns a citizen, or attacks his good name on hearsay evidence, he deserves to be thrashed for it, even if he is a “non-combatant” weakling; but a generous adversary would at least allow such a lamb the use of his legs at such a time.—M. T.] End of Project Gutenberg’s Roughing It, by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)” source