The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-19

the trial OF this unfortunate glri, Amelia Norman.
Even at period when it has happened that several
exciting trials have been proceeding at the same
time, dividing, itmight be supposed, the attention OF
The public YET this particular case il would APP
pear that all the feeling and interest of the commu-
nifty are concentrated. This is not surprising The
circumstances attendant on this case have been
OF such character as thoroughly TO awaken and
arouse the moral sense of the public and to excite
to the highest degree, all those feelings Of sympa-
thy and lndlgnation and that Deep inherent hatred
OF wrong, which, when sufficiently stimulated, ex-
erclse such powerful sway over the great popular
hearts-often, to ne sure, pervertng the Judgment,
and giving no, altogether just direction to public
opinion, but still ever entitled to respectful consde-
ration, and conveying admontions not always with
out salutary effect.
| What sad, sad revelation Of the depraved and
| polluted condition of society was afforded by the
scene presented in the Court OF Sessions yesterday,
when Madame Restell was called on to identity
Ballard! The ruined girl--the unabashed, heart
less seducer-tha woman on the stand-the crowd
OF painted harlots in one corner of the court room
The motley multitude, comprising such variety
OF character--all presented spectacle equally hui
Initiating and instructive 1t was one short chapter
of the life OF the world-but in that chapter what
IA volume of wrong, and nfamy, and guilt, and so.
Tenn warning. The prisoner is girl evidently of
no ordinary character Her hair and complexion
are far, but her eyebrows and eyes are very dark
giving expression of sternness to face which
otherwise would Justly be considered strlkingy
handsome. She was plainly dressed in black, and
exhibited much composure, although that ma
nfestly the result of strong effort. Ballard is about
thirty years of of the middle sze-has long
heavy face, and small head, large aqueline nose,
cold, grey eyes and thin ps but nowise distinguish
able from the thousand smartly- dressed, common
place looking individuals, with whom you meet as
you walk down Broadway about the hour when the
counting houses and dry goods stores discharge
their clerks and statesmen for dinner. AS he
emerged from the concealed position which he had
occupied behind the stove, and stood forward in
order to allow the female Restell, opportunity for
identification, if in her power, every eye in the
room was directed towards him, but there was one
only whose gaze rlveted our attention. 1t was that
of the victim at the bar. What world of remorse,
fearless agony, reproach and comfortless despair
was there She had now become the accuser,
and it seemed for that moment as if it were not she
but the author of her wrongs who awaited the ver
dict OF that jury, and whose punishment that cour,
were to be called on righteously to measure out.
Whence all this popular excitement--this ire
pressible expression Of public Indignation against
Ballard, and sympathy for the perpetrator of the
offence which had yelling sent him TO very
different tribunal from that before which this
wreched female stood arraigned? 1t is not agains
Ballard merely that the current of public lndigna.
ZION flows He is but one of class. By all ac
counts, very fit representative Of it, indeed bur
still only one Of numerous class. He is one OF
those highly respectable, moral, reputable, worthy
men, the great aim and object Of whose lives is TO
betray and ruin virtuous females Of the humber
grades Of society He is one Of those worthy
honorable, moral men, who are continually prowl-
ing about our large cities in pursuit of such friend
less, unprotected girls as this unfortunate Amelia
Norman-men who utterly incapable of one
generous, pure, honorable emotion of genuine
love-men who habtuaily regard and treat women
brues-men, the ascrption to whom Of any
thing like human heart, would be vile libel on
nature. And how the BaIlards of society
treated by the virtuous and moral portion Of the
communityl Here we come 10 the root of the
matter. These men admitted, without the
ighest hesitation, INTO the most vlrtuous, the
most moral, the most respectable society. They
admitted, did we say; they sought and
courted, and caressed, and regarded as the or
naments OF the social circle. Every one knows
this. And here is the polluted sources Of that
flood of immortality and guilt, of whose deep,
iesolating current, such trials this afford the
houghtless and the nenightened "a passing glimpse
Go where you Will, you find these heartless, sys
tematic, cod-blooded villains, who search out their
prey in the lower grades of society, where ven
geance is less to be feared and the work of rum is
less expensive and less dangerous. In Wall street
in the warehouses down town-lounging about
the hotels-at the ub-rooms-behnd the scenes
at the theatres-even In the house of God-you find
these men. AT all the fashionable parties up town
in the quiet domestic clrce-n the boarding ouses
everywhere these knoicn, brutal, vile, and utterly
heartless wretches to be found-ail respectable
moral, "nice," 'gentemanly' men. These are
the men who crowd thoroughfares with the
lost and ruinedthese the authors of those ter
rlble moral desoatons, which are every year COW
eIing the fame lite happiness and life of thousands
with irreparabe ruin.
Now, here must reform begin, if ever society is
to get rid of this evil. So long as the known Sc
Queer of unprotected female innocence is admitted
into respectable society-so long as honorable and
respectable fathers and mothers permit such crinl-
nails to pollute with their presence, the atmosphere
of a virtuous dwelIlng-so long will the crime OF
seduction increase, and be perpetrated with impu-
nifty. And the only way in which this change in
public sentiment can be effected, is to brand the
crime Of seduction with the same degree of infamy
and disgrace in the eye OF the law, as are attached
to the crimes of theft or robbery or murder. Let
seduction be at once made State PRISON offence
Talk of civilprosecution from damages 1t is an
insulting mockery-mockery of justice-of morali-
ty-of right--of the deep love of virtue, which,
thank Heaven, still lives in society. But brand
the seducer feon, and then you shut against
him the doors of all who desire to maintain the
slightest pretensions to responsibility in the eyes OF
the world.
Let the public press speak out this matter
And now that this community has got one Of those
periodicals. fits of morality, which occasionally
visit ancielN. LEI eYerY man. who has ought n him