Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-13
Crime in Baltimore.

One of those terrible deeds Of assassination
which occur but too frequently in our country,
has Just boon committed in Baltimore. A po-
lice officer, named Rigdon, whose testimony had
led to the conviction of a certain Gambrill, for
the murder of another policeman, had, because
of his conclusive evidence in that case, given
umbrage to band of ruilians to which Gambrill
appears to have belonged. Rigdon, who bore a
most excellent reputation, had been informed
that his life was threatened, but, as brave and
good man is apt TO do under such circumstances,
he took little heed of such menaces, and after
the performance of his duties on the 9TH inst,
he retired to his home The two assassins who.
il would seem, had sworn to take his life con
the day that Gambrill should be convicted" fol-
lowed and watched Rgdon, and one of them re-
morsecssly shot him through the window Of his
parlor, while he was standing at his own hearth,
talking to his wife of the morrow-thc seventh
anniversary of their wedding.
The most horrible feature of this fearful deed
is the calm generalization with which this no
liceman's assassination appears to have been re-
solved upon, as punishment for his plain duty
as an officer and a citizen. ANY man in the
community who might become in any way cor
infant of the commission of II urder, is bound
to disclose it. A police officer is most strictly
so bound because he specially engages his SER
vices for the prevention of crime. Yet, because
he gave the evidence which the law demanded
of him in his double capacity of officer and citi-
zen, two Williams, Crops and Corrie conspire
to Kill him, and did kill him-by the most cow
ardly and ruffianly of all means-at his own fire
side
This dreadful story carries with it It's own
moral The law can only punish such crimes.
Except by the example OF whatev-
er that may be good fcr-the law has no means
to prevent the recurrence of such irightfu deeds.
There is no legal way OF ascertaining what man
carries weapons concealed about his person. nor
Of Judging what he intends to do with them
The law can only come in after the deed has
been done, and apply the punishment which the
assassin anticipates when he commits his crime
One is often led to doubt, in view of the con-
slant incroasein the atrocious and bloody crimes
against which the law provides its severest pen
allies, whether there is not some radical defect
in our system, and neither we 20. after all, take
the best methods of REFRESHING and preventing
crime. But, in this Baltimore muruer, there is
little room or occasion for specializing upon mo-
uves, or modes of punishment There was an
open and undisguised contest between ruffian-
ism and law. gang of murderers was leagued
against the officers OF Justice. The condition Of
Baltimore for some years past has invited such
an issue,-and now that ii has been made, and
the war begun, there is but one alternative =
ruihanism or law must assert its supremacy and
hold unchecked control of the CITY. If the law
fails to bring home to this gang Of asSassins the
foul conspiracy which plotted and executed the
murder OF police officer for doing his duty,
and 10 punish every one of them with the ut
most rigor, the Government NAV as well be dis
banded at once. If these men escape, they will
rule the City. 1t is an open fight and there is
no retreat. The instinct Of the mob seems to