Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-06
BRUTAL sENsUALfTY

DNoAak otNoVhLlIt
The late sitting OF the superior cour,
Hardy county (third week in May wasds
tingyished by case Of the most atrocios
nal Fe. The pages Of the Criminal Recc
seldom exhibit the depravi,y Of man
more odious colors, or represent bis pasioa
ip more beastly character. The case
allude TO was the trial Of JOHN REED Lr
rape, committed under the most agravate
circumstances on the person of female
bout le years old, the daughter Of respky
table farmer, and near neighbor to Reed
The prisoner was married man, hal
wife living at the time, and was the fatis
OF a family. So strong was the public
element at the trial. and so overwhelming
the Indignation Of the people, that, althOug,
the poisoner bad employed counsel TO DEF
Geud bun, not word was said in paiiisi,d
of his offence. Notwithstanding these Gin
cumstances. the jury permitted the Thn
perings Of merry 10 drown the cries OF jus
tice, and with !nrbearance that prove
them men cast in PHYS finest mould, 4
dopted the minimum punishment for Id
crime, and let th. prisoner off with ,a
years confinement in the penitentiary. OIL
receiving the verdict from the jury, bis bird
or nudge HOLMES pronounced the following
sentence, which is transmitted to US BY 4
friend in More6eld. with the remark lba(
sits sentiments and language, together WITH
the pathetic and just emphasis with which
it was delivered, conspired TO draw teu|
from the eyes OF many ofthe audience, ami
made an impression OF seriousness and at
teution upon all, which can never be fOr}
gotten"
JOHN REED,-You have been arraigrst|
tried, and convicted Of the abominable GRIND
Of rape, committed on an unriDe virgin OT
tender year. In all civilized nations ,land
indeed among savsges. this crime is punish
able, aud most generally by death. The
laws OF nature, the laws of God and man,
alike forbid it. What would be the state
Of society, were the law 10 tolerate the de-
graduation OF the female 70 the level Of The
brute creation {? To leave her unprotected
from such violence as you have committed,
would be on abandonment of one of the FIR:
aud most important objects Of the social stale
and that is, The protection Of the weak T.
gainst the strong. But when we estimate
the value Of female character and influence
on the manners and m ,rals of society, and
find that it is the mother vino makes the hr''
impressions on the infant mind and thai
they are good or evil, according 10 her OVID
character; is it not OF the last importance
tina, the female should occupy station 81
least equal ifnot superior in some respee'
to man Woman naturally looks up 10 nan
for protection and have no doubt the IN
nocent victim of your lawless lust waited fe'
your company along the loLely path where
she was sacrificed. II was indeed commit
ting the lamb 10 the guardianship OF TOE
wolf. Wien you had bound the victim an'
dragged it to the altar where your passIo"
worship. man who is worthy OF The name
of man would have been moved by lDs
shrieks and cries Of the helpless innocent |"
STAY the immolaiion. But no: you 60 on"
perpetrate the bloody deed, &must now atone
for it by an ignominious punishment Inc
ciril death which you are now about 'uher'
not extinguisbipg thai inward monitor COZ