The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-17
A TALE or INFAMY.
How an innocent Girl became q Ds-
graded Prostitute.

Few people probably ever stop to think of
or Investigate the origin of the various grades
of crime committed In city like Chicago, or
trace the history of parties who are actors in
the great drama of crime and human depraY-
ity. Those being nnaccustomed to look upon
sush things bestow, but a passing thought or q
casual examination upon the committal of a
murder or suicide in our streets, turn with
feellnglof disgust from the recital of tale of
human misery, resulting from the influence of
the sterner over the weaker sex, and look with
Indifference upon the daily evidence Of the
alarming prostitution of human intellect and
morals. Hundreds are daily drawn into the
gaping vortex of crime and degradation, all,
or nearly all, through the dangerous influence
Of pretended friends who seek TO mould them
to their own fendish purposes and yet what
cares the man or woman Of wealth and station
about these miserable victims of perverted
passions What interest to them to inquire
| into the causes of this lamentable state of af-
| fairs Fortune has smiled upon them, and
they are happy.
A look, smile or pleasant greeting, might
save many poor soul from q life of ignominy;
might arrest the progress of some unfortunate
! being in career of vice, and reclaim them to
| the paths of virtue; while, on the other hand,
| the Geld look of scorn which meets these unfor-
Inmates at every turn but steels their hearts to
| deeds of shame and accelerates their descent to
| the lowest depths of infamy. If there were
more Towards and Florence Nightingales
/ there would be far less of crime to record.
/ Let one but study the annals of our police
court, and trace the history of those whose
names are there recorded, and he will fnd
material for volumes more interesting than the
! fictitious productions of the most vivid imagin-
| stion-more interesting, because founded upon
| the stern realities of avorv-dav life
| An illustration Of this fact was afforded yes
terday at the police court in the case of a
/ homeless, hiendless prostitute, who was ar
raigned at the instigation Of miserable apol-
ogy for man, who once took solemn oath to
cherish and protect the unfortunate being
whom he has since attempted to drag down to
q course of infamy.
Two years ago he found her an innocent,
joyous creature, and, after winning her conf
dence and virgin love, married and took her
from happy home in the State of Virginia.
A few months ago be brought her to this city,
and, after long and systematic course Of
abuse, his villiany eliminated in an attempt to
compel her to prostitute herself for the paltry
sum of six dollars. Failing in this he contin-
ued his course of i'll treatment until she was
compelled to abandon him or live in constant
fear of meeting violent death at his hands
She chose the former course, and being among
strangers, unable 10 return TO ner nome, and
having no one to protect her, she was necessi.
tated to enter upon a course of shame. Since
that time her steps have been logged by this
wretch who has attempted by threats of vic.
lence, to extort from her the money thu.
earned to enable him to live life of ease ano
incidence Finding himself thw arted in th
attempt, he preferred charge against her a
the Police Court, fer being an inmate of
house of ill-fame. He acknowledged that sh,
was his lawfully welded wife, and that he wa
ashamed of it. Well might he be ashamed
when he reflects that he is the cause of hel
downfall
J The girl is apparently about seventeen
years Of age, and though her features are
J strongly stamped with the evidences of dissi
patton, yet they still retain traces of former
} beauty, and she is not yet altogether a stranger
to modesty. She was acquitted of the charg
brought against her, as it was considered {
malicious prosecution, and unsustained by evi
| dence. The husband, who is known by tn,
name of John b. Fritz, is a young man, ap
} parently about twenty-five years of age, whom
: casual observer would pronounce gentle
man of rather progressing personal appear
ance; yet careful study of his physiognom,
! would reveal the hard lines of passion upor
his countensnce without sufficient fierce o
character to control himself. This want Q
self-control was evinced in several instance
during the progress of the examination. Thi
is but a single instance among the variou
, cases which might be cited, the details c
which, if known, might be equally revolving.