The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-07-29

Never perhaps in the history of our country
certainly never within oar recollection, has crime
in its worst forms been so prevalent throughout
the land. Scarcely paper Of any importance
but has its weekly budget ofrapes, robberies and
murders with which to regale its readers. Not
only from the swetering dens of cities, but from
small towns and rural districts, where law and
good. were wont TO prevail, come up the
horrid tales of fendish humanity. Lawlessness
and disorder, fearful contempt for human lite
and an utter abandonment to the worst passions
seem to have seized upon the people. Guerillas
ride through some sections of the South, deliber-
atcly shooting peaceful citizens for the mere
sport of killing, as though men were wild beasts
which ought to be exterminated. Rapes are COM
mitted on the highway, under the very eye of
the authorities. Daylight has ceased to be a
protection against robbery Men walk the streets
armed with the deadliest weapons, nor hesitate to
use them on the slightest provocation. Public
meetings, religious as well as political, are dis
turbed and broken up, by rowdies under the in
fuence Of liquor There is no public safety and
! a feeling of apprehension and alarm prevails
throughout the community. 4l3HQ
Why is this ms v ESP 81 sfEq
s. Much of it undoubtedly has its origin in the
season of war through which the nation has
passed. But there is another reason The in
difference to crime manifested by the people, and
the want of stern and strict enforcement of the
criminal laws We all know the verdict render
ed by the jury in the late trial of the Paca broth
ers at Easton Maryland. 'oo& ss
A few days ago, Miss Harris was acquitted a
| Washington for the cold-blooded murder of A
j. Burroughs a cerk in one Of the departments
Her plea was that Burroughs had broken prom
Use Of marriage to her,-a fact that was by nc
means satisfactorily established. But admitting
that it was true, was this an offence for which &
man is to be coolly shot down like a dog Have
we no Law for the punishment of one who is
guilty of breach of promise arf
The jury acquitted Miss Hrris through sickly
sentimentallty that is current in this country
and the public applauded the verdict. A Wash
ington correspondent says-"Language is mad
was rendered The men vociferously cheered ant
applauded, and the women waved their hand
kerchiefs and shed tears" We honor and re
spect woman. We like to see due gallantr.
! shown her at all times. But we don't believe il
allowing her to shoot people whenever she feel
SO disposed, with absolute impunity. Yet som
of our wise juries seem willing to grant her ever
this privilege through mistaken notions of gal
lantry. A young woman may deliberately shoe
a man, and she needs only get up love story t.
show that the victim had in some way triAe'
with her affections, and employ two or thre
lawyers who can talk eloquently about blight
ed hopes" and injured innocence and ''bro
, ken hearts," and the rope-deserving murderes
leaves court acquitted, amid the acclamations G
the crowd. ''Let justice be done though tn
Heavens fall - and let not the blow be warde
from the guilty because she happens to wea
crinoline. eaa a--.5 .'-1' e"