New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-22

An advertisement published in THE TRIBUNE OF
yesterday morning illustrates if we may use the
word in connection with such deeds of darkness,
the fearful insecurity of life in NewYork of which
We heretofore had sad occasion to speak. Erastus
/. De Forest came! to this city on the 18th inst.
on his way to Havana. On the 14th inst, at about
/ o'clock in the afternoon, he drew sum of money
from the American Exchange Bank, and since that
time he has not been seen or heard OF. His bag
eage still remains at the Metropolitan Hotel, and
his friends fear that be has been murdered. Now,
it is possible that he may be still living, and that
his absence may be hereafter satisfactorily accounted
for. But then it must be confessed that the prob
abilities are all the other way. What the facts
He had $500 in cash and gold watch on bis per-
SOD and il was expected that he would go to South
BROOKLYN Cd the evening of the day OF his disap-
pearance. Considering that the garrote robbers
are prowling up and down our thorOughtares; con-
sideriDg that they have shown al entire willingness
to knock down and half murder a man for the small
sum, we believe in one instance, of twenty-four
shillirgs, why should it be thought impossible that
they Lave, for the sake of $500 and gold watch,
and remembering that dead men tell no tales, and
never como into court to bear witness against their
murderers, made surer work, lmmolated 1neir
victim, and flung his body into nelghborn8 DOCK
There are plenty of different ways by which this
gentleman might have been disposed OF; he might
have been strangled, or stabbed, or shot, or
stunned or suDgshotted, or bOnne:ed, or hocu'sed'
We have no lack of professors of these gentle ar's
these soft, persuasive methods OF Appropriation In
this city; many graduates in the new school OF
felony-skilful practitoners-who will, with gre at
dexterity, spare their victim the pain of conscious
Iy parting with his property, and who will alleviate
larceny by murder. We have aplenty of demoral
lied Bill Suykses who have f,lea from the high
estate of burglary to the low practice of street gar
rotng; plenty OF Tom Kings and Turpin' aud
Jerry Abershaus who luIk in the shadow of the
WALL and, instead of boldly bidding their prey to
stand and deliver, mediate ambuscades and assass
nations, and aeainst them the police seem to be
poweress. Such being the state of affairs, we say
that in New-York, when man is missing, it is
probable that he has been murdered and the proba-
bity must continue until he makes his appearance,
so that his friends do perfectly right when they ad-
vertise for bis remains.
What precious reputation is this for Christian
city, and for the leading city of continent to
acquire What inducements do we hold out for
tmid, or even for prudent, gentlemen to visit us
How comfortable must it be for the loved ones at
home TO know that ia addition TO the seductons Of
the giog-shop and the gaming den, we have added
the ply scal danger assassination and thatfstEers
and brothers may not merely return minus their
pocket books and morals, but may not return az
all We do not know how long the respects ,e
people of New-York intend to submit TO this con-
dition of affairs, but We do know that they cannot
wholly escape the responsibility of the disgrace.
We do not suppose that the bad outnumber the
good even here; but We permit the bad TO rule the
gcod-to drive them from the polls-tO take pos
session of the Government, and to FL thousands Of
homes with Dameless terrors and apprehenslons.
All this is intoleIable and will not much longer be
endured or, if il must be endured, let US, in the
name II consistency, pull down our churches, and
our libraries and our schoOl-hOuses, since they are
but the forms and shows OF sn unsubstantia civili
cation! We must make life safe in New-York or
consent TO be considered from Portland to Calves
ton, or from Philadelphia to Oregon, place to be
shubDed not merely by the wise but the prudent.
VII not our authorities for while give lI.tlo at
tention TO these hugsi If not, We must be ready
speciabIlity, but TO wealth, TO power, and TO the
great relative influence which We have heretofore
enOyed.