Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-03-15
THE sEDUCERi
The BaItinlO Horror!
Rev. l.. ID. IIuSt On D., ID

W. appSLd OSCditCo dSCouhb Va viz
awful and shocking discovery which
has filed the City of Baltimore with
indignant horror, and which has now
assumed in the public belief so def
nice shape, that there are few left
to doubt the terrible story. So
wholly unprepared were the mem~
bers of DR. Illusions Church for this
paralizing and amazing intelligence
that if, when assembled at Trinity
for worship, they had been sudden-
ly startled by the discovery of a mon
ster Anaconda in their midst, the
effect would not have been more
appalling.
We clip the following from the
Baltimor american:
The apparent effort making by GER
tain parties shield the Rev. L. D..
Huston, late pastor of Trinity MethO-
dist Episcopal church South, from the
charge of seducing several children
connected with the Sabbath-school of
st. Paul's church of the same denOm-
ination, has induced us to thoroughly
investigate the matter. The result of
this investigation has satisfied us that
a more base and black-hearted william
never disgraced any walk OF life than
the Rev. L. ID. Huston has shown HIM
self to be, and that the poor children
who have been the victims of his lust
are deserving and should receive the
sympathy of the entire community
Those who would blast the character
of these children to shield the libidi-
nous wretch from punishment are as
suming fearful responsibility before
God and tEeir fellow-men, and are
crushing the heats of parents and
friends who have already sufficient to
bear without adding to their burden of
misery.
SUFFICIENTLY proven.
When the good people of Baltimore
CITY, with singular uuanimity, accept
as true the statement which makes the
Rev. DIR, Huston an uumittigated
scoundrel, they are only applying to
his case the rules of evidence which
obtained in court of law. In crimes
against chastity the proof rests in the
bosom of the injured party, and her
sworn testimony is always conclusive
| (provided she be a person of good rep
| utation), and if there be corroborating
circumstances. Her own oath makes
out prime facie case, and the seducer
stands convicted, unless he shows by
competent evidence that the complain
ant has sworn falsely. There is not
a peuitentiary in the whole country
| that does not contain convicts who
have been sent there by the testimony
| of the woman against whose virtue
| their brutal violence was directed and
! in cases i'm which the law compels an
unwedded mother to disclose the father
of her illegitimate offspring, no proof
is required beyond that of her own
! oath,
1t is not, therefore, prejudicing the
Rev. DIR. Hoston's case to presume his
guilt. and to speak of him as though
! legal Judgment had already been pass
/ ed against him. In another celebrated
case, in which person of good social
| nosition was charged with q heinous
crime, the community did not hesi-
tate TO find verdict of guilty" in ad-
vance. and to act as If legal conviction
was as certain as the moral proof was
conclusive. Society can not afford to
wait for that investigation which is TO
determine whether this accused sedu-
Ger is amenable TO the law or not
The statement of poor, ruined heart
broken girl has more weight than any
denial which the vile destroyer of her
peaee can make. 1t is true thata mn n
who has for thirty years sustained the
character of an exemplary minister OF
! the gospel should not be judged rash
ly. but there is much reason to believe
| that the reputation which, in this in
stance. has been forever blasted, has
1 heretofore not been entirely spotless.-
/ There are grave suspicious that the
pastors sacred office has been prosti-
tuted many times before TO the cor
rupting of tender lambs of the flock.
He has chosen TO run away ana al
though precipitate flight il not always
conclusive proef of guilt, il raises a vi.
olent presumption that weighs like
milestone against the accused.
THE HEART-RENDIEG STORY.
i It is not surprising that there were
some inaccuracies In tlIe first publish