The Case of the Pummeled Publisher
Given the notoriety Jack Boyle garnered in the journalistic world after falling victim to opium addiction, it is often forgotten that he was once a very respected newsman in San Francisco. Here is a rare glimpse from the days of J.A. Boyle, up-and-coming reporter, as seen in the April 24, 1902 edition of The San Francisco Call.
The case under discussion here is that of Fred “Young Dutchy” Hansted, accused of assaulting Thomas Garrett, publisher of The San Francisco Post, in broad daylight on a city street. Why Jack Boyle was in court to relay word that Garrett was unable to leave the hospital is unclear. He is known to have worked for The Post later in the decade, but is thought to have been employed by The San Francisco Examiner in 1902. On the other hand, Jack is known to have worked for a number of newspapers in that area between 1900 and 1909, often moving back and forth between them. So it’s entirely possible that he worked for both The Post and The Examiner at various points in 1902. Regardless, it is odd that he is cited here as addressing the court, rather than attending the proceedings as part of his duties covering the crime beat.
For that matter, the entire circumstance surrounding the assault trial seems odd. Early reports indicated that Fred Hansted witnessed the assault on Thomas Garrett, and rushed to the publisher’s defense. After Hansted helped him to safety, Garrett was then reported to insist that the police detain him so the publisher could file charges against him. After months of court appearances and continuances, a jury ultimately acquitted Hansted in October 1902. Whether or not the true assailant was ever caught, and why Garrett tried to lay the blame on Hansted, seems now to be lost to history. Though the idea was dismissed at the time, at least one contemporary report of the incident conjectured that the entire affair was a publicity stunt to increase exposure for The Post. So even during his days as a legitimate journalist, Jack Boyle was involved (at least peripherally) in a questionable situation or two.
JBF 8/24/16
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