The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-01-25
Frrap t!e Baltimore RcP06SeGa.
The Trial of Amelia Norman--D Disclosure ofVice
In Centeel Society.

The Trial of Amelia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ofVice
in Genteel Society.
We mentionedyeserlay the extremely hard case of
Amelia Norman, now on trial in New York for stab
bing Henry S. Ballard merchant of that city In the
New York papers find the following details of love-
sorrow and crime as ELECTED in evidence, and re-ptb
lish them, somewhat soiiened in language) per-
feet picture of the morality of the age.
The stabbng was clearly proved as having taken
place on the lst of November last She addressed Bal
lard on the Astor House steps. He pushed her away
and she plunges knife in his breast which, striking
rib cut him severely, but did not endanger life.
Mr.. Carpenter opened for the defence, and gave the
following touching history of the unfortunate young wo
man.
The accused is native of the western part Of New
Jersey, where hevparents reside-Thashe was brought
here at l3 years old, and lived for year or two with
Mrs Merriam, then year or two at Mr.. Callenders
in both Of which places she mild amiabe and of
rirtuous character-Then when living at Mi. Caen-
der's on visit at the house of female acquaintance
Ballard met her, and giving that female money, cult
waited prisoners attachment for
her-waked out with her-took her to places OF amuse
men-and finally, under preence of taking her to re-
spectacle, retired place. took her TO house of bad char
acter in Mott street-she then being only l6. This was
in 1871. That he having formed deliberate purpose
for the prisoners ruin succeededMr. Ballard got her
to leave Mr. Callender--got her boarding place in
Beekman street. where he visited her under the name of
Mr.. Brown. That being seen to take her to disreP
utabe house. Ballard removed her to Brooklyn, where
the effects of their intimacy being apparent he took her
to Madame ReStell's where she has been twice, &c..
That he then gota house for her on 20h street. where he
passed her as Mrs Norman, and himself as MIR. Nor
man. Thence to the house of Mr.. Adams, in Dean-
cy street, where he passed her as his niece. Thence TO
Mr. Prentices in Oliver street. where he passed her as
Mrs. Brown and himself as Mr.. Brown, her husband
When was discovered that her name was not Brown,
she was compelled to leave,
In 1912 he took her to Newark, New Jersey at Stew
arts Hotel, where he passed her as Mrs Williams, ard
he as Mr.. Williams, her husband That in the fall Of
1912 he boarded her at Mrs Grays in Canal street, as
Mrs Williams his wife and where he and his Counsel
threatened her compelling her 10 go to Mrs. Birds e
male physician, where she had child which still sur
wives and depends upon her for support of which child
Ballard is the father That from Mrs Baird's she was
taken TO Light street, and that he contnuedo follow her
wherever she was" That he wrote letters toheratNew
ark protesting love and hoping again to see and en-
brace her. That these letters were signed by Elders
Brown Williams &C. That he compelled her 10 60 to
the Policeand suboned her 10 swear her infant 10 an
other person. that by threats and promises The compel
ted her to restore him the letters he had written to her.
that Mr. Calender commenced suit, against Ballard
for the seduction Of the prisoner but that Ballard and
his Counsel by promises of finding her house to live
in and TO furnish her an ample support induced MIR.
Calender to discontinue the suit &C. that. he got her
residence at what he tod her was respectable house,
but it turned out to be an infamous house. where he
bandonedher she left the city them that she wished to
dsconnuehe vicious course of life she had been lead
ing but returning he pursued her up to October l649
and when she applied 10 him for support he told her to
go and get her support as other vile did, that excl
ed and aroused driven almost to distraction she did
make the attack charged upon her in the Indictment
that she did previously goo his store in Cedar street in
company with another young female whom he had ru
ined in Philadelphia, brought here, had two or three
children BY and then abandoned that the prisoner was
smarting under sense of iTeparabe wrongs and the
loss of character and virtue when she made the attack
and that therefore the deed ought to be excused, as
lesser wrong than Ballard had done to her The Coun-
el said if Mr. Ballard could not live as he said in,
New York in safety unless the accused was in prison,
why then let him leave thseiy sadhe for we have vii
lains enough here without him.
The Counsel then concluded with an appeal TO the
Jury. ..