Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-25
The Alleged Rape Case.

1 Ehu AHlGl0 aAANl Hanes
EDS. LRADER.-My object in this oommu-
nieation is to state the facts in the case, and
to Vindieate the young man said 70 have been
an accessory in the affair Of the poor girl
from Berea.
This young man, ss all his aoquaintances
know, has an unfortunate habit Of psriodl-
cal inebristy, which should call forth sym-
psthy rather than censure. When not un-
der the influence of stimulants, he Is gem
tlemanly and genial. He is possessed of &
Hne organization and a high moral tone, and
dispises the pefsons into whose society in
temperance occasionally throws him. do
not think any one ever saw him In anger, or
heard him use profane or obscene word.
When in that condition, he is almost per-
fectly Oblivious of every thing he does, but
is never rude or abusive. Butat such times
he naturally falls into low associations, and
when he becomes himself again he suffers
intense agOny of feeling, and his friends
deeply sympathize with him and strongly
regret his inability toOvereoms his besetting
habit.
Those that have the least charity in such
cases, are apt to be persons who have been
victims themselves, or else have suffered in
their family relations from this indulgence.
Many, very many, have had sad experiences
from this too common curse of the human
family. There is not a community in the
land, but that can attribute large proper
ton Of its suffering to this cause. A paren.
tai feeling is one Of intenseness, and no good
parent is ever ready to give up hope, or re-
lax his utmost exertiens to reclaim an err
ing child. The world knows nothing of the |
trials and efforts incident TO the accomplish
ment Of this end and just here is where ed
itors of newspapers often show great want of
feeling, and infict upon persons and fami-
lies great suffering, and do them great iDjus-
tice, by publishing rumOrs and falsehoodR.
They seem to have morbid inclination to
cater to a depraved appetite; and instead of
melting people to be charitable and act upon
the Golden RHls, excite their passions and
But to the facts. The young man alluded
10 was in one of those unfortunate periods
If inebristion, and ct house he never visits
)nly at such times. Sometime in the FORE
lOon carriage containing that poor girl,
vas driven to this house, by a man named
Phillips, who it seems made application to
lave her kept there. The young man see
ng q carriage at the door, at once asked the
river TO take him down town. This being
ssented to he entered the carriage, and in
tead Of coming down town, as the sequel
hows, was carried in an opposite direction,
f which fact he was doubtless quite Uneon-
cious.
The girls testimony before the Grand
ury shows that he offered her no indignity
1vOlving the least criminality, and none st
Il until after the violence alleged to have
cen used by the driver. Under the circum-
iances, and knowing nothing about her, he r
robably thought the girl different char
cter from what she is. She is simple, ig.
GRANT, and no doubt girl of good chaTao-
n. She says that 30 far as the young man
concerned, she has no complaint to make,
nd that he did nothing she would ever
ave spoken about.
There are few other detailsin the case,
ut none that alter the facts as stated above.
It might be inferred from some Newspaper
,cOuntsJ that ne lmm edlately secreted him.
If to elude arrest. Such is not the fact.
e was about town as usual the rest of the :.
ay came home Saturday evening, and did =
Of go out again until nearly noon of Sun 6
ay, he nor his family entertaining the least 81
lspicion of what awaited him. Sometime :.
lnday evening, however, it appears that :
me ofieious and iDjudieious friend did per- T
lade him, temporarily, to secrete himself cs
When found it would be impossible to
st him e separate trial from that of the
liver, and consequently that the chances cs
his having fair trial would be greatly q,
it was thought best that he :,
lOuld not appear in Court, When advised q
leave town, he at frat refused, saying, "T
III stay and stand trial, for 7 am innocent =,
I'd they cannot convict me-" Being, how
Ier, strongly persuaded by his friends, he y
last, with great reluctance, consented to If
}. He went to the depot, without the least
or disguise, having a man to go
ith him to carry his satehel, saying, 81
i'll go like man, and not steal away like a
llprit." TO
The design of the foregoing article, let it al
, dietinctly understood, is not to manufac- :,
ire sympathy, but to do justice to him and q
is friends, and place the matter in its prop Sc
light before the public. FATHRR.