Two News Items (1916)
The managing editor of the Daly Bugle was in his office with the cub reporter. "Hall," he said, "you have no sense of news value. The story of an ordinary laborer may be told in three lines, but news about a very prominent person is worth front page headlines." The reporter's first item in the paper the following day was: "The body of a white woman found floating in the East River last night was later identified as that of Katie Fagan, 650 Barren Alley. No reason was given for the suicide." And this is the rest of the story, which the reporter failed to write. Katie was a typical product of the tenements. Life held no joy for her, and meant continual work. Her husband, Dan, was a good man of his kind. He worked in the great factory of the millionaire, John Rockland, who also owned the tenement in which they lived. If Dan drank a bit too much on Saturday nights who was to blame him? It made him forget his grim struggle for existence. One night while intoxicated he went to strike Katie, but the news she imparted stayed his hand, for Katie was to become a mother. Dan, repentant, helped her in her efforts to save, for baby's sake. Then Rockland reduced the wages of the men twenty-five per cent, and a strike resulted. Cheerless days followed for Katie. The collector was always on time for the rent, and finally baby's savings had to go. Dan appealed to Rockland in his beautiful home, but was thrown out for his insolence. Rent day came again. The Fagans were told that if they didn't pay by five o'clock they would be dispossessed. Dan learned of a janitor's position vacant at the Children's Outing Association and he managed to secure it. But Rockland entered shortly afterward and had him discharged. Dan, desperate, and thinking only of Katie, entered Rockland's home to steal the money that was rightly his. Rockland saw him as he left. At home Katie was happy at Dan's story of the job and the money already procured until Rockland entered, and had Dan arrested. Katie was wild with grief, and at five o'clock the men came to dispossess her. She told them to take everything, and holding her baby's things tightly to her, she made her way blindly to the river, a victim of John Rockland. The same paper also contained the reporter's other bit of real news. It was on the front in double column headlines: John Rockland again contributes to Children's Outing Assn. Noted philanthropist gives check for $50,000. Ten thousand children to be made happy by week in country."
All Releases
Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Edward Sloman | Director |
| Julian L. La Mothe | Writer |
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Jay Morley | |
| Adda Gleason | |
| Lee Shumway | |
| Adelaide Bronti |
