The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-04
Disgraceful [ utrage.

For week past, The citizens OF this and
the neiehborins town Of Fairfield have been
excited by the development of one of the
most diseraceful outrages known to the cat
aloguc of dissipation aud lechery. The par.
ticuars are too foul for detail although the
main facts are due to the public. They en-.
brace the abduction and iorcible detention
and prostitution ola young girl Of some
sixteen years, named Smith, residing in
Fairfield; the work Of four or more meii re.
siding in this vil!age, and all Of whom are
married men and parents, and connected
with several Of the most respectable families
in this place.
The arrest of James NJ. Gray and Charles
Scribner, before Justice Purrinton, at Ken.
dall's Mills, disclosed tho facts thus far
brought to light. We give no names except
those thus disclosed, although four or five
ohers are confidently mentioned rs con.
cerneJ in the nfTair, and known to all 1t
appears that ScIibner went to tho house OF
the girls parents in Fairfield, and procured
her to 90 and take care of his wife, who he
said was sick. He brought her to this vii.
lage, and left her ut house near the depot
pretending that he lived out Of the village,
and wanted 10 procure q team to take them
out. After dark he called for her, took her
out upon back road, where they were met
by one or more of his associates, and she
was induced to drink freely Of some kind oi
liquor, which she says rendered her helpless
or insensble.
For Two or three days she was forciSly de.
tained by these devils in human shape, part
of the time in barn, and at other places /;
and was at last found among them in barn
by her own father!
1t is due to humanity to add, that most
of the men engaged in this foul outrage
were drunkards Of the most beastly and
gutter. soaked class although it cannut be
denied that one or moro stand unshiclded
by this humiliating excuse. '..f"i,t..
Gray was required to give bonds in the
triaing sum, itseems to US, OF fyo hundred
dollars. He was taken to Jail at Norridge.
wock by deputy sheriff Nye, but soon sue
ceeded in procurin. bail and was set at lib
erty. Scribner was arrested, but for some
reason which we have not ye, learned, III,
examination was deferred several days. dur
Ing which lime he was permitted to 90 with
little il any restraint; and after the releas,
of Clay. the two disappeared about the sam,
time and probably together. Their partner,
in the affair so disgracelul to humanity, anc
shameful 10 our village, yet walk unarrcsiec
though pointed at as specimens Of mora
carrionihardly equalled in tho cabinet
prostitution. ....Io..5... ..f.,.L .Tll...'.
We charge no Official wrong in this mat
ter, but we say that the alar.ning tardines
Of law and justice demand explanation. !
permitted unrebuked, to be thus slow ans IN,
inefficient, the most corpulent crimes WI
ouirun them, without single. e1cepuon
were not known and acknowledge mora n'1
nuisances among young and old-:%ark,e' ,s .a;u n%
threatened for years, and admonishSd, 10 VA. h',
ill their reform was beyond anything oa'
the hand OF God, a TOO mereiiu, communl'y
might permit their escape with less man,Ies' !
sninsbiIity.i- But thus to fr'ghten out into
o.her comm unities tho moral pesilences We
@ Ssxc moi courage to fetisr. ~ is not only
u nn"war,IIy but wicked and II there is any
spoi-cy for Il The public are entitled TO Il
= and our columns free 10 communicate IT.
,Wattrrilk Nail. ai.5 ad. baa ,el5.ia-.j0