By: Dave Astor Tulsa (Okla.) World editorial cartoonist David Simpson was fired Thursday after being charged with plagiarism.
The Hartford (Conn.) Courant's Bob Englehart, who informed E&P about the firing, was the cartoonist whose work was copied.
"It was an obvious theft," said Englehart, who added that Simpson has been accused of plagiarism in the past by other cartoonists.
Simpson could not be immediately reached for comment.
Englehart's cartoon was actually from way back in 1981, while Simpson's version ran this June. Englehardt surmised that Simpson saw it in a book collection before drawing it for the World. Someone familiar with Englehardt's work noticed the cartoon while traveling and mailed it to the Courant. The paper informed the World, which investigated the matter and made its decision.
The three-part cartoon was headlined: "When Does Life Begin?" A priest answers: "At the moment of conception." A judge answers: "At birth." A kid answers: "When you get your driver's license." Englehart said Simpson's version was virtually identical.
Englehart is puzzled about why Simpson copied him. "He's a really good cartoonist," said the Courant staffer. "There was no reason he had to do this."
When reached Friday, World Editorial Page Editor Ken Neal referred E&P to World Publisher Robert Lorton for comment. Lorton could not be reached immediately. TulsaWorld.com posted a story on Friday about the firing, with the headline "World cartoonist loses job after plagiarism investigation." The subhed read: "The Tulsa World dismissed its longtime editorial cartoonist David Simpson on Thursday. The dismissal came after allegations of plagiarism surfaced involving a cartoon that appeared in the World in June."
Englehart, who will mark his 25th anniversary at the Courant next month, is syndicated by Cagle Cartoons.
Below is Englehart's 1981 original followed by the plagiarized version that got Simpson fired:
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