Lightning Rod

Lightning rod of the modern press is the news-camera man. Most persons who are subjected to unwelcome publicity see the wisdom of treating reporters civilly. But let a camera click and click goes something in the overwrought subject's brain. If anyone is going to get hit it is the camera man. During the past fortnight, press lightning rods had the following experiences:

In Kansas City, Missouri's white-crowned, red-faced onetime U. S. Senator James A. ("Jim") Reed was defending a Mrs. Myrtle Bennett, on trial for the murder of her husband (TIME, March 9). In the courtroom Photographer George Cauthen of the Journal Post made a "shot." Senator Reed. 69, slapped the jaw of Photographer Cauthen, 30. Next day appeared on the frontpage of the Journal Post an editorial headed "Techy Jim": ". . . If the former Senator were younger, the Journal Post would feel like firing George Cauthen . . . for not breaking his camera over his assailant's head. As it is, we think Photographer Cauthen deserves a medal for . . . self restraint and dignity. . . ."

In Milwaukee, out of a star-chamber divorce hearing walked a Mrs. Annette Seyfert and her lawyer, into camera-range of Photographer Leland M. Benfer of the Wisconsin News and Sentinel. Mrs. Seyfert had hysterics. The lawyer "assaulted and battered" Photographer Benfer. Mrs. Seyfert went to court and secured an injunction restraining the News and Sentinel from taking or publishing her picture. The News and Sentinel girded their loins for a great "freedom of the press" battle. To the newspapers' disappointment, the court granted a motion of Mrs. Seyfert's lawyer to drop the case.

In Detroit at the trial of Ted Pizzino, Joe Bommarito and Angelo Livecchi for the murder of Radio Announcer Gerald E. ("Jerry") Buckley (TIME, Aug. 4), a juror complained that he could not hear the testimony because of the popping of photographers' flashlights. Judge Edward J. Jeffries chided him: "Please be patient. The safety of the administration of criminal law is publicity."

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