New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-10
MEMS LIVES At AUCTION.

Our neighb0rs in Philadelphia have been
busted during the last week in the trial of a
man named IIanlOn for the murder Of child.
With the details of the case we have nothing
to do; they are too utterly foul for publica-
ton but the trial itself ought not to be suf-
fered to pass without notice, as it offered n
fragrant example of one or two abuses which
are becoming but too common in our Courts.
The most Obtrusivc was the presence among
the spectators of large numbers of women,
well-drcssed, as we are told, and apparently
belonging to the more respectable classes of
society. The evidence brought forward was so
unusually horrible and disgusting in its de-
tails that much of it was suppressed in the
reports furnished to the press. Yet these wo-
men listened to the whole with unbushing
effrontery, and came day after day in such
numbers as to exclude even the lawyers from
the court room, and crowd into the places of
Witnesses judge, and jury.
We have seen cases lately almost parallel to
this in our own Courts, where women exhib-
tied a similar incredible immOdesty and pruri-
ent curiosity. They belong, of course to q
class who, from either birth or education are
rendered incapable of understanding Decency,
or the secret of wOmanly honor it would be
useless, therefore, to attempt to point out
their mistake to them. But it is high time
that some restriction was placed upon the
habits of our Courts, if we would preserve to
them any sembance of dignity or even
decency. Opening the doors to an indiscrimi-
nate, irresponsible mob of both sexes during
the progress of trial like that of Hanlons,
is as much to be deprecated in its effects as
secret trial would be. In one case there is a
chance OF injustice to the prisoner; in the other
the certainty of debauching the public
mind. We are no advocates of Star Chambers
or trials in dark corners. But there is q me-
dunn between them and the solicitude with
which every foul novelty in crime is now
dragged into public, and turned over and dis
sected before swarming crowds of men and
women, whom only an unhealthy, vicious ap-
petite could have brought to such an exhibit
ton, and the people of all others whom it is
most likely to incite to imitation. A man must
nave good deal of the virus of crime already
III MN before he can enjoy with gusto such
tflais as that of HanlOn. How then must it
DC with womenf For the sake of public NOR
ais, let justice be provided in future with some
decent safeguard of reserve and let women
at least be excluded from places where their
mere presence degrades their whole sex in the
eyes of men.
The other point which we wish to notice in
this trial is a still graver abuse. 1t appears
that when the child Mohrman was murdered,
reward of some $4,000 was offered for the
murderer. Suspicion being excited against this
man Hanon, when he was an inmate of the
state Prison, the detectives, whom the reward
had naturally made jealous in the matter, APP
phed TO the superintendent of the prison for
man lkeiy to succeed in worming confession
out OF him. prisoner named Dunn was
selected, who, by his own statement, is pro-
iessional thief, and has been n convict in
England Australia, and Sing Sing. lie was
placed In The same cell with IIanlon, with the
understanding. of course that pardon was