The Herald of Freedom (1788–1791) or Herald of Freedom and the Federal Advertiser was a newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 18th century by Edmund Freeman, Loring Andrews, and John Howel.William Nelson. Notes toward a history of the American newspaper. NY: C.F. Heartman, 1918. Google books.
In 1790–1791 the paper "was engaged in the first libel-suit tried in Massachusetts after the Revolution, ... for a savage attack on a member of the Legislature," John Gardiner.Frederic Hudson. Journalism in the United States, from 1690-1872. Harper & Brothers, 1873; p.181Herald of Freedom; Date: 03-29-1791John Gardiner (1737-1793) was the son of Silvester Gardiner and the father of John Sylvester John Gardiner; cf. T. A. Milford. The Gardiners of Massachusetts: provincial ambition and the British-American career. UPNE, 2005 The Heralds printer, Edmund Freeman, was "charged ... with publishing in his paper ... a most ... scandalous and malicious libel."Herald of Freedom, Date: 02-12-1790 "The libel complained of, charged Mr. Gardiner, with the atrocious murder of his late excellent lady [Margaret Harries], by cruelty."Vermont Journal, 02-17-1790 On February 3, 1790, "at 12, o'clock, at noon" Freeman "was taken into custody, by virtue of a warrant from Mr. Justice Crafts."Vermont Journal, 02-17-1790 "The case was decided in favor of the newspaper. Harrison Gray Otis, one of the most brilliant men of his day, was counsel for the editor."Frederic Hudson. 1873; p.181
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Further reading
From the Centinel. Proceedings on the Examination of the Printer of the Herald. Herald of Freedom, Date: 02-12-1790 Massachusetts. Boston, February 1. Vermont Journal, and the Universal Advertiser; Date: 02-17-1790. [Account of the trial]. Herald of Freedom; Date: 03-04-1791. Supreme Judicial Court; trial for a libel: Commonwealth vs. Freeman. Herald of Freedom; Date: 03-11-1791 Trial for a Libel. Middlesex Gazette (Connecticut); Date: 03-26-1791 Joseph Tinker Buckingham. Specimens of newspaper literature: with personal memoirs, anecdotes, and reminiscences, Volume 1. Redding and Co., 1852. Google books