ABSTRACT
As war loomed between a newly independent nation and its old colonial master, a newspaper editor called the imminent hostilities “unnecessary” and “expedient.” A crowd answered him by demolishing his office. Relishing the thought of armed conflict, the editor fortified a house, set up shop and resumed publication. A crowd gathered and shots were fired. Troops quelled the violence and took the defenders of the newspaper to jail for safekeeping—whereupon the crowd destroyed the house and eventually turned on the jail, where they mercilessly beat the defenders who were unable to escape.
