John Peter Zenger's fight for freedom of the press: halitosis exposed

In the fall of 1732, William Cosby, a member of the British aristocracy, became the colonial governor of New York. As an incompetent, tyrannical and self-serving ruler, he quickly alienated the citizens of New York and, as a result, a core group instigated a broad-based popular uprising against him. In November 1733, John Peter Zenger (1697-1746) published his first issue of the New York Weekly Journal, which would soon become a political organ of those who attempted to bring Cosby down. Zenger's Journal contained particularly offensive attacks on Governor Cosby. They included biting personal jabs, which were judged as being quite inappropriate. The governor was described as having "loathsome false teeth and an unclean mouth." Circulating first-hand reports stated that he possessed a chronic case of the most offensive halitosis. In November 1734, Zenger was arrested and jailed for seditious libel. Fortunately for Zenger, he was defended by the colony's most prominent attorney, Andrew Hamilton. One day later, after only ten minutes of jury deliberation, Zenger was found not guilty. This famous first victory, later called the "germ of American freedom", paved the way to First Amendment Rights in America.