How might this front page sell the newspaper? why would such a story and title be a disservice to the people of new york?

This newspaper claims that there is a $50,000 reward for something. This is a very convincing appeal, and people would likely buy the newspaper in order to discover how they can earn the reward. However, this is simply a trick to attract readers, as the reward is metaphorical. It is a device used to comment on how the Maine (a ship) was thought to have been destroyed by the Spanish.

the respondent is the party against whom a petition is filed