Hello, all.

How have you been doing whatever you have been doing?

I have a question about a fictional newspaper article from
Ross Macdonald's "The Doomsters"

The story began in a rather stilted atmospheric style which
made me wonder if Slovekin had been embarrassed by the
writing of it: "In a tragedy which may parallel the ancient
tragedy of Cain and Abel, violent death paid a furtive and
shocking visit today to a well-known local family. Victim of
the apparent slaying was Jeremiah Hallman, 34, prominent
Buena Vista Valley rancher."

Why is `victim' not heralded with the definite article? Is
it omitted by way of telegraphic journalese? Unlikey among
the surrounding wordly folliage...

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* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)