Demise of the Bainbridge Times, 1880

The Demise of the Bainbridge Times

Chenango Co., NY

Bainbridge Republican, March 26, 1880

 

"We Rise to Explain"

 

In justice to our  many friends and patrons, and also to ourselves, we desire to devote a short space to a personal explanation.

 

It is not our desire in alluding to the discontinuance of the publication of the Bainbridge Times to in any manner gloat over or exult therein.  It is foreign to our nature to rejoice over the failure of any business enterprise, and it is certainly so, when the late managers thereof, even though our competitors, have at all times used us so gentlemanly and honorably.  But now that the Times has suspended publication, and therefore no one can accuse us of jealously or malice towards it as a competitor, we desire to explain the manner of its conception, as it was through falsehood and duplicity to our injury that it may date its origin.

 

In August last, having become fully aware of the dishonesty and underhanded dealings of an employee of this office, B.I. Sherwood, we did what any other business man would have done--we discharged him.  But instead of his doing what any honest, respectable printer would have done--seek employment elsewhere in a capacity he was fitted for, he commenced circulating fabulous tales of our fast-increasing wealth, and other more despicable falsehoods, derogatory to our personal character; all this for the purpose of inducing someone to establish an opposition paper in this village, wherein his name would appear as editor, and give him further opportunity to live by the sweat of his neighbor.  Prior to this, Mr. David Van Horne had run a small job printing office in town and the most amicable relations had existed between the two offices.  Here was the chance Sherwood pinned for.  Having the assurance to imagine himself gifted with extraordinary journalistic abilities, and that the surrounding country would hail him as a second Greeley, and flock to his standard like the bony Scotch in the days of Wallace gathered around the banner unfurled by that patriot;  with his poor brain addled by such imaginary greatness, backed up by his sanctimonious visage and hypocrisy, he induced Mr. Van Horne to enter into partnership with him.  Thus was the Times launched on the buffeting billows of the journalistic sea, and started on the voyage which was to return honor and profit to the one partner, like unto a vessel bound for the lands of spices, rare silks and choice wines; and a world of experience to the other, in the verification of the well-known story.  And how was Mr. Van Horne treated after his charitable act, you ask?  The Times had scarce opened its eyes upon this interesting world, and began to make known its existence, ere the duplicity of Sherwood was made manifest, and it was at once apparent that there was small chance of the accumulating bills to be paid while he had a chance at the receipts.  A gentleman was accordingly called in to act as cashier. This was as a thunderbolt in a clear sky, and the high road to fortune upon which Ben supposed himself a traveler was blockaded by palisades and trenches, difficult for even him to scale or pass.  Ben then lost all interest in the concern; sent locals intended for publication in their own paper, to an out of town journal and worked against the interest of the paper at the head of which appeared his name;  this disclosed his true character; losing all opportunity of filching from others, the ruling passion was so strong that he was obliged to exercise it upon himself.  And all the fabulous stories of immediate wealth and five per cent governments, with which Mr. Van Horne had been promised by his "Oily Gammon" partner, faded with his character, and left an impression like unto the color of the retiring government securities.  But no one should be goaded because of a mistaken act of charity, and it was charity, strengthened, perhaps, a trifle, by the Croesus like wealth promised, that induced Mr. Van Horne, to lift this hypocritical phenomena from the slough of dishonesty in which he was wallowing and try to seal him upon the pedestal of approved public opinion.  But the cloven foot became visible, and the project miscarried--Having now lost all interest in the enterprise, Ben began  his natural vocation--working underhanded against his benefactor, and his stay with him was accordingly very short.  Messrs. Carver & Van Horne then continued the publication of the Times long enough to discover the deceit used to embark the scheme, and to clearly demonstrate the infeasibility of publishing two papers in Bainbridge, and now retire gracefully from the scene. Those of our readers who are unacquainted with the course pursued by B.I Sherwood while in our employ, may think us unnecessarily severe in this exposition.  To such we well say, that having reposed implicit confidence in him, he betrayed the trust most dastardly.  He did job work and collected the pay therefore without making any return to us, and neither did he make any minute of the same on the office books; he collected subscriptions, that he not only neglected to charge to himself, but to cover his theft, he refrained from crediting the same to the subscribers.  He also collected money on advertisements for which there was no credit given, and not until we presented the bills therefore after his discharge did we know of the fact.  And for two years prior to his discharge from this office was his dishonesty carried on and how much longer we will probably never know, nor to what extent, as he has confessed to no thefts but what we forced him to acknowledge by the production of indisputable prof.  Part of the sum thus filched Mr. Sherwood returned to us, the rest he is welcome to if he will go to work like a man and support his family.

 

We would not have thus so publicly exposed this man's dishonesty, had he not recently again betrayed what little confidence we might have reposed in him as an act of charity, and circulated a falsehood to the effect that we had again offered him his old position in this office. This was purely imaginary on his part, arising from an idea of ours to give him a few days' work to assist his family.  but his treacherous nature would not allow him to accept this kindness and be thankful, but he must needs circulate stories injurious to our business, and an insult to the gentleman now in our employ.