The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-11


order in societyto afford opportunities Tor guilt
70 open wide to the thoughtess and the erring, the
avenues to infamy and ruin. There is a law against
masouerades, imposing fine we believe of $1,000
But that of course would not operate as prohibl.
ton. 1t would be very easy to take the Park
Theatre, get up masked ball, and with the proceeds
pay the fine, pay $1,000 for a supper, and have two
or three thousand dollars profit into the bargain
We had thought Of calling the notice of the Legls
ature to these affairs. But on the whole, we think
that Slgnor Paimo will be the most efficient con-
sentative of the public morals IN this case. The
opera will effectually suppress the masquerade
When refined, elegant, intellectual amusement
Is offered, all persons OF taste and genuine respect
ability will assuredly prefer it to one OF very ques-
tionable morality. The opera will flourish, and
masquerades be lett to the appropriate patronage OF
men without character, fools without brains, and
women without virtue.
% SEDUCTION, ABORTION AND 1NFANTIclDE.-Re-
cent events have developed the increase of these
offences against the laws, tending to show a state
of morals in this city almost unparalleled at any
former period. The most recent case is that of
John Jones, button maker, of Is Plat street,
against whom the Grand Jury Of the Court Of
General Sessions have returned an indictment for
made the representations before that body, had
formerly been in the employ Of Jones at his esta-
bshmentin Platt street, where he also has other
females engaged. She is represented as an inno-
cent, confiding and pretty female, of about seven
teen years Of age name Catherine Costello ; and
her plain, unvarnshed story Of seduction, and sub
sequent abortion, as detailed before the Grand
Jurors, caused many tear to trckle down the
cheeks OF the father and the brother, she related
it with heart-broken signs and exhibitions of sor-
row and distress.
The increase Of these offences, that in almost
every case render the body and mind of the unfor-
lunate sufferer, ever after, mere blank in exist
ence, calls loudly for the enactment of additional
laws by our Legislature, rendering the offence of
seduction punishable by criminal, instead OF
civil penalty. From seduction follows the offence
of abortion and, unsuccessful, then the crime of
infantcide closes the two previous acts, in order
to cover the shame of the seducer and his victim.
The decision the of Amelia Norman
shows in broad light that the feelings of jurors
on this subject are swayed to great extent by the
all powerful influence of public opinion. II is this
avalanche that all charged with these offences
must bear themselves up against in future. 1t is
this ordeal through which they must pass, and if
innocent, we hope they may pass uninjured, but if
guilty the majesty of the law should be sustained
as example to all future violators.
The recent OF the Presbyterian minister,
Judd, of Brooklyn, charged with the seduction of
his servant girl, aged only eleven years, has caused
great excitement in that city well in Newark
and Paterson, New Jersey where he was formerly
stationed He has escaped, and the vengeance of
the law therefore remains unsatisfed.
1t is time that the Legislature of this State made
some movement in this matter. The offence OF
seduction clearly proved, should be made crime,
and State prison offence or msdemeanor at least
punishable by Imprisonment in the penitentiary
The fear of such public exposure will tend to deter
those from the commission of this offence who
now practice their arts with success, and boast Of
conquest. If deprivation of property-lf palhy
pelfs to be punished with incarceration in prison,
is not the cool, deliberate, calculating villain who,
under the disguise OF friendship and professed af-
fecton destroys the virtue, the peace, and finally
blasts the future happiness of unfortunate con-
tding girl, still more guilty, and still more deserv-
ing Of that punishment than the miserable shrtless
thief who robs perhaps to hide his nakedness, or
supply the longings of a starving appetite?
The inefficiency of the existing laws to punish
this offence, has caused avengement on the part of
the relatives friends of those injured that should
De exercised Dy the law alOne ana III Is perhaps the
fear Of this engagement alone that deters many Sc
Queer from the accomplishment of his purpose. We
live in land of laws; we people who profess to
be governed by laws, and yet the exercise of
wrong in violation Of all law, even to the destruc-
ton of life, has been sustained by jury after jury,
when committed to avenge the seduction of an
fortunate sister or hapless daughter.
1t is therefore evident that additional legislation
is necessary to correct existing evils, and we call
upon the delegation from this city TO show their
galantry in defence Of the sex at the earliest pc
rod. The man who makes the first upon
this subject will receive the thanks and the warm
expressions of gratitude of every female among his
constituency, and what man can desire more than
the heartfelt applause of such advocates?
Mr. WINTERS CHEMICAL PAINTINGS, which at
tracted so much attention during their stay in this
city {previous to tho accident by fire in the Granite
Buildins) have been drawing full and fashionable
audiences for time past in the city Of Brook
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