Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-06-05
"The Reign of Blood"

OuueF THIS caption 'Durlelgn the
New York correspondent Of the B0S.
ton Journal, says:
The execution of Foster, and the
probable death of half q dozen more
murderers, has in no wise diminish
ed the reign of violence nor curbed
the spirit of murder. 1t seems equal
ly unsafe to remain at home or ride
abroad. A man who comes down
from Harlem after eight o'clock
takes his life in his hands. The vic
Tins are not only attacked in the
public streets, but are chased into
the cars by desperadoes, and whole
rows of people have been robbed on
our city roads of an evening. The
conductors afford the assailed no sort
of protection, and their excuse is
that they would be spotted and kill
ed in twenty-four hours. The police
keep out of the way until the affray
is over, and do not hesitate to say
that should they arrest one of these
well-known gang, the justice would
discharge the culprit. and the Off
Ger be shot or MANNED for life. A
man is quite as unsafe in public
place as in the dark lanes and foul
regions of the city. The killing OF
Rogers on public stoop on Broad
way, in broad daylight; the MUIR
der of Mr.. Nathans on Twenty-third
street, opposite Fifth Avenue Hotel,
are only specimens. Mr.. Goodrich,
prominent citizen of Brooklyn, was
foully murdered in his house the
very day that Foster was hung
Gangs go through blocks with per-
feet impunity, and the terrified PEG.
pie lay quiet.in their beds while their
houses are robbed, knowing that to
speak is death. "lf any one comes
into your room to night" said a gen.
tleman to visitor on Murray Hill
"don't you speak or breathe" Per.
haps the fellows will do nothing but
rob you. To chloroform family is
very common thing.
There are we'll known gangs who
go regularly about this business OF
robbing, breaking into houses and
shooting. They are as we'll known
to the police as the City Hall. Yet
such is the reign of terror that these
desperadoes are unmolested. | was
standing as the door of one of our
largest livery stables when a young
man walked by. He was well dress
ed not over twenty, and might east,
ly have beer mistaken for bank
clerk or a salesman in dry-goods
house. The stable keeper:remarked
"That young man is one Of the most
desperate thieves and burglars in
the city. | have seen him rob two
or three persons within week. /
dare not say anything. If L did my
stable would be burned over my
head. He belongs to bad gang"
This reign of terror and blood is
producing a democrat izing effect on
the community. Confidence in law
and in courts is growing weaker
Men, under their breath, but gener,
ally, are talking Of armed resistance
TO blood and violence. In the banks
in insurance companies, in large
moneyed institutions, in mercantile
houses, and among the artisans, thi:
one theme of the lawlessness of the
hour, the insecurity of life, arming Of
the citizens, and a Vigilance Com
mittee are common talk. If this
thing continues some. body will bt
hung at the lamp-posts. SO genera
is this feeling that the pulpit has
broken ground on the subject in ia
vor Of self defense. One of the mos
popular preachers of the country
yesterday alluded to this subject
He said that the row in which b,
lived had been entered, and more
than once, his own house included
He rebuked the squemishness which
made people reluctant to shoot
burglar. Every ones house was hi
fortress and he was put inside of i
to defend it. And the preacher toll,
his congregation very plainly, tina
if burglars revisited his house b,
should show them what he knew
about shooting. When the pulpi
countenances bloody resistance t
desperadoes the state of publis senti
ment must be gretty strong.