The Washingtonian., 1845-07-26
ANOTHER VICTIM!


ANOTHER VICTIM!
We are called upon to chronicle another
victory achieved by the Rum.King, in our
city.
On Friday night the 18th inst, most hor-
rible murder was committed, at miserable
shanty, on the canal, west of the residence of
Gen. John P. Van Ness. The victim was a
poor unfortunate drunkard; and the author of
the dark and hellish deed was, also, slave to
the same debasing and destructive habit of
intemperance.
We were called to the spot soon after the
fearful tragedy occurred; and although accus-
toned to look upon sad and melancholy sights,
we have never felt deeper thrill Of horror
than that which passed over us, in looking
upon the mangled body of the dying man.
There, upon the bare gr.und, with his head
slightly elevated, lay the bleeding but uncon-
scious form of fellow being, whose dealhless
immediate presence of its Eternal Judge !
The skull had been fractured. the lower jaw
broken, and the terrible instrument by which
these, and other injuries, were inflicted
stick of wood some three or four inches in
diameter, stained with blood was exhibited.
Who was the vic'im? Who the author Of
this deed # blood? Who were accessories I?
The victim was poor unfortunate drunk
ard. He was even at the moment the death
blow was Inflicted, in state of beasty intox-
ica,ion. How fearful condition in which to
be called away from earth! How terrible
state in which 10 appear before the Judge of
the whole earth! Death is always full Of
terror. Even the good often shrink from its
approach, with dread. How infinitely more
terrible, when the victim of its power has
lived regardless Of the dictates of reason and
religion, and has no moment left him, in
which to seek that pardon which is freely and
graciously rendered, through Christ Jesus.
even to the viest of the vile! Such was the
life and such the death Of poor Naior. He
may have been dangerous member of socie-
ty-he may have been poor outcast-but
the circumstances of his death are calculated
to awaken sympathy in the public mind; and
require that the author of this enormity should
have meted out to him, the proper penalties
of the law.
Who was the author of this dark deed
and what the circumstances under which it
was perpetrated? The author has avowed
himself, and the deed was partly done in the
presence Of others. The murderer and his
victim had been drinking throughout the day
together. One bottle, several times replen-
ished from neighboring groggery, supplied
them with the cause, the occasion of the
bloody drama. They quarrelled-a death
blow was dealt; and then, to make assurance
doubly sure,'' the murderer dedlsred that he
would ago and finish him; )" and while pros
trate on the ground, unable to help himself,
and perhaps beyond the possibility of recovery,
inflicted blow upon blow upon his victim, un.
til even the hellish spirit of revenge grew sick,
in contemplating its own work!
Who were the accessories to this bloody
deed? RUM-runa Das the cause Of a.! But
for rum, the sleeping victim of this outrage
had vet lived, an ornament and a blessing to
society. DuL WHO luIHlSHcu tuC iuui " Wis
murderer and his victim ? Does no response.
bility rest upon him? Human laws may not
take cognizance of his acts-they may even
protect him, and give unqualified license to
continue his pernicious course. Human tribu-
nails may not hold him to an accountability for
his acts in this case, and in other similar
cases; and the public may look coldly on,
while these bloody scenes are enacted, but if
there be truth in the Bible-if the great and
glorious being whose character is there por-
trayed, is God of Justice and Righteousness
if there be any state beyond the grave, in
which man shall give an account Of his con-
duct in this lfe--then, beyond all doubt,
. Heaven, in its Justice and Truth, will deal
out unstinted wrath upon the heads Of those,
who, for the miserable, paltry consideration
of few dirty shillings, are instrumental, not
remotely merely, but directly, in bringing
abou, the miseries and crimes to which the
use Of intoxicating drinks is sure to lead.
Hear,less soulless, sordd men if they can
never be induced to abandon their present call
ing-if deaf to all the calls of humanity, and
regardless Of the stronger obligations Of reli-
gion, they persist in their traffic, and grow