Chapter 278: Solemn Litigation
"I heard that Pulitzer was quite critical of our coverage of New Orleans? This is quite normal. It also shows that we need to work harder on newspapers. The current newspaper media landscape is far from enough." Sheffield has been paying attention to the impact of public opinion on this incident, especially the two opponents who love to sing against him.
"I understand, boss. Are we still going to proceed through mergers and acquisitions?" Jesla nodded, asked how things would proceed, and prepared to send reports to newspapers in various places immediately.
"There is no better way than mergers and acquisitions now!" Sheffield chuckled. "So-called neutral reporting does not exist. Under the two-party system, there are almost no centrists. What's the point of claiming to be neutral reporting? Besides, I have never seen so-called neutral reporting. During the Spanish-American War, all newspapers were better at making up rumors than the other. Not everyone has forgotten the Spanish landing in New York."
In fact, the current domestic newspaper media landscape is said to be composed of three giants, but in reality they are just the three largest news groups in the newspaper industry. The reason why they are not giants is that, including Sheffield, the newspaper circulation of the three groups only accounts for one-fifth of the country's total newspaper circulation. The news industry is far from having giants coexisting.
Sheffield remembered that it was after the beginning of the 20th century that the newspaper media industry in the United States began to undergo drastic changes. Major groups began to continuously merge local newspapers, forming several true media giants.
Now Sheffield occupies half of the one-fifth of the circulation, and the other two newspaper groups occupy the other half. In fact, this is enough. Think about it, if one in ten American citizens reads Sheffield's newspapers, it can already form a huge public opinion.
However, compared with the situation decades later when several groups divided up the entire media landscape, Sheffield still has a lot of room for improvement to turn its newspaper into a real news monopoly group.
Tomorrow is the official opening day of the court. Sheffield is very much looking forward to the verdict this time. After all, he has been both a player and a referee. It should be natural that he will have an acceptable result in the end. For this conflict, riot, or even uprising, Sheffield can only accept the result that is in his favor.
Before the trial, Sheffield was still paying attention to the progress of his demolition, and was always discussing a problem with the French designer friend he invited. Charles, who was in his thirties, was a talented French designer. In fact, talent was not very important. What was important was that designers of this age had talent but no fame, so the price he asked was not very expensive. He hoped to make a name for himself with the big project here in Sheffield.
When Charles came to apply for the job, he did not hide this fact at all. He wanted to use this renovation project to become famous in the field of designer. This frank attitude was very appreciated by the slave owner, so he was chosen.
However, Sheffield was still cautious. After all, he was not a famous historical figure, so he gave the design to Vanderbilt II and asked some of his connections in the architectural field to evaluate it. The response was good.
"These Chinese workers are as efficient as ants. This is amazing! I can't believe that there are hundreds of millions of them and the country is in such a difficult situation." Charles kept sighing and then commented, "His Majesty the Emperor once commented on them!"
"I happen to know that sentence!" Sheffield knew what Charles was talking about as soon as he heard it. The sleeping lion theory! He put his hands in his pockets and said, "The evaluation is correct. There are not many people with such foresight."
In fact, Napoleon's words were a positive assessment of the Eastern threat. In essence, he was still worried about the Eastern Empire, just like William II's Yellow Peril Theory! He was just a little too direct!
I feel a little sorry for the admiration of the later generations of spiritual German fans. Although we lied and cheated, we did it for this country. How can the Germans always be so stupid and never modify their inner views?
It is said that if the Germans were not beaten in the world war, then who would be beaten? Although we have always been doing this, a traitor like you has appeared in the imperialist family, and you are unwilling to even make the necessary cover-ups.
Although the Qing Dynasty did not deserve this evaluation in this era, to be honest, with the power of the world hegemon, the British Empire, especially its naval power, it would not be difficult to defeat the United States in 1900, let alone the Qing Dynasty. Now that Britain and the United States are at war, Britain can still organize a fleet to cleanly destroy the US Navy, and then approach all the port cities of the United States to bombard them one by one, and then leave.
As long as the British did not land, the protagonists of the American Century would also be helpless, not to mention the United States. France, the world's second largest colonial empire, seemed to have just been humiliated in Africa, and the incident had not happened for a few years.
Otherwise, how could it be that Britain had just suffered a loss in the Boer War, but this became a grand party for other powers?
Sheffield patted Charles on the shoulder and thought to himself, "France really poses no threat to the United States of America. There are only two candidates who can threaten the United States with its full potential, and France is not one of them."
Charles looked at Sheffield's receding back in confusion. Why did he feel as if this boss was sympathizing with him?
This trial is a big event for New Orleans, and it puts a huge pressure on the New Orleans court, because there are more than 300 gangsters who have been caught so far, and the United Company is holding on to public opinion. This has created a very realistic problem. The New Orleans court is not big enough, and many suspects have to wait outside the court under police supervision.
The news of the public trial spread among the citizens. Sheffield also took a car with major shareholders, passing through the ruins of the old city that looked like it had just been destroyed by artillery fire, and went to the court to participate in the public trial. Outside the New Orleans court, there was already a huge crowd of people, including a large number of defendants who were under control and an even larger number of citizens who came to watch the fun.
Many citizens felt that this might be the defining event of the year for the city of New Orleans. Dozens of cars drove through the crowd and stopped. Sheffield, McHale, Gail, and a series of shareholders of other companies got out of the cars and entered the courthouse right in front of the criminals who were being held down by the police, listening to their curses.
Although the court was rather crowded with the number of criminals this time, it still showed the greatest kindness to the plaintiffs and reserved almost all the seats for spectators for these plaintiffs of considerable wealth.
Sheffield, who turned a deaf ear to the Fuck Bitch, wore a villain-like smile, nodded at each criminal, and lazily said to his friends around him, "They still have the energy to curse now, but when the trial is over, they won't even be able to cry."
"Haha!" Sheffield's words caused a burst of laughter, as if he was mocking these people for overestimating their own abilities.
In the gallery, including Sheffield, every shareholder was well-dressed, polite, and wearing well-made leather shoes. Not one of them looked ungentlemanly. They waited quietly for the verdict and filled all the seats in the gallery, facing the judge's seat in the bench. It seemed as if these bosses were the real judges, but they were just too lazy to do it themselves. In fact, that was almost the case.
This solemn court seemed even more solemn and dignified with the addition of these people, and its status was instantly raised a lot. Following the lawsuit, the defendant and the plaintiff's lawyers entered into a long debate and presentation of evidence. From this time on, it was clear that Sheffield would not fight an unprepared battle. If needed, there were witnesses, physical evidence, and confessions.
No matter how the criminals on trial protest their innocence, they will be lured into a language trap by the lawyers hired by the joint company, who will refute their arguments and ultimately make the judge tend to favor their own views.
"Otherwise, why are the lawyers in ancient times so hated? They are just like me, people who profit from the blood of others."
Pah! Sheffield lit a cigar. The slight sound made the judge frown slightly. Just as he was about to say something, he saw the audience below lighting cigarettes one after another as if they were infected with an infectious disease. In the end, he held back the words he wanted to say to maintain the dignity of the court and asked someone to open the window to let in the cigarette.
"I have lawsuits filed by over three thousand citizens because of the actions of a small group of hooligans and gangsters, which caused these citizens unnecessary losses. In fact, this group is far larger than this number, but some people have generously forgiven the inconvenience caused. However, I still want to say that the citizens who filed the lawsuit should not be blamed for their actions!" At the plaintiff's lawyer's seat, the chief lawyer of the United Company took out a thick lawsuit request, used public opinion to hit the last nail, and completely put an end to the series of events caused by the urban reconstruction.
"These rich people have robbed our homes. Can't we even protect our own houses?" A man loudly questioned the judges in the courtroom, "What kind of society is this? A group of well-dressed rich people are actually trampling on justice in such an occasion!"
"Your Honor, this lawsuit has nothing to do with the United Company's lawsuit! The delay has caused losses to the United Company and a series of shareholders. I have a statistical data here, which has been calculated by the most professional team of lawyers. Let me make one thing clear here!" The chief lawyer of the United Company first nodded to the audience, and then spoke to the judge, "The ins and outs of this matter are so clear after being proven by numerous evidences and trial records. The criminal's defense for himself is completely untenable and can be sentenced in court!"
Sheffield blew out a smoke ring, stretched out his hands and clapped twice, and then all the major partners followed suit. The entire compound was filled with thunderous applause and prolonged whistles.
"What you said makes so much sense! If he weren't a lawyer, how could he be called a lawyer? This is called professionalism!" Sheffield tilted his head and said to Gale, "Although it's a little expensive, it's worth it."
"That's right!" Gale raised his head slightly, obviously expressing his appreciation for what had just happened.
Today is the last day of 2019. I update three times a day, but today I really want to take a break, so I will update twice. I wish you all the best in 2020.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
