, 1874-03-01

It is said that the family Of Christopher Raj
fe7ty, who waa executed On Friday last, arc in
destitute circumstances that the father is aged,
the 1othor blind, tho sister inAane. and the
brother has fled that the family were supported
BY the labor Of tho two sous, and, deprived Of
this, are nov in distress. There can be no reason
why these poor people SHOULD be less the objects
of cnarity and Of aid because OF the crime Of
the unfortunate son. They arc in no wise guilty
Of the crime, and no part Of its consequences
should weigh upon them They are undoubtedly
tit subjects Of charity But, while We commend
them in their serious aff1ictiou to tEe kindness Of
the public, We beg leave to suggest that there
are other victims to tlis tragedy wlo should not
be overlooked.
Officer O'aieara was shot down By Christopher
Rafferty,; shot because he was an officer Though
not engaged directly in the arrest Of Rafferty,he
WAS, accidentally, in company with Seaman when
tho latter encountered Rafferty, in the saloon.
O'Meara was On other business, aud
waited near the door until Seaman should
arrest his prisoner, and was there mur-
AAA0
duties Of q police officer are not inviting or
agreeable, ut the best. The officer who does hi8
duty fearlessly and conacientiouRly must Of ne
ceszity be an object OF dislike to every rufian
and scoundral who crossea his path There is in
all the largo cities class OF persons who enter
tain tho opinion that all policemen are tho cne-
mics OF popular liberty, and that il not nctually
lawful, it ia always comznendable to do them ali
the harm posaible. Christopher Rafferty, was
ono Of tho class who thought it C. "big thing"
to shoot "peeler." Those officers 60 upon the
patrol every night conscious that ut any mo-
ment they may bo assaulted, stabbed, shot, or
murdered; that, it they interfere with the law
less clnas, thoy risk their lives BY SO doing. Tet
stands between the general peace and safety Of
the community aud the murdcrous acts Of the
robbcr, footpad, and runian. Officer O'Mcara
WAS located in part Of the city where
he was constantly exposed to the as
sau1ts OF those who hold that It is no
crime to kill a policeman. He was an honest,
faithful and courageous officer. He was shot
down, brutally, cowardly, maliciously, and shot
because he was an officer. ..
The debt OF society to faithful officer Is not
discharged by tho hanging Of his murderer.
O'Meara left widow and five children. by his
death they wero cut OF from the support he
rendered them, and since then they have been
dependent upon such scanty earnings Us the
mother Of five small children can obtain. While
re respect tho hand that extends it's charitable
aid to the stricken parents aud sister Of Rafferty,,
VIC hold also that society should do something
Tor the widow O'Meara and her helpless brood
OF little ones. The least that can be done is to
lift tlis dependent family OF the murdered Off
cor from poverty and destituuon. They should
be provided for in somo substantial manner. so
that officers, who carry their lives in their hands,
may know that il they fall in the performance
OF their duty, society will not leavo the widow
and orphans to starve and perish, while it's sym
pathy and charity arc layiahed on the relatives
OF the murderer.