The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-31
Grimes Against Women.

tIeuei duu JudJi among JnOSe WHO
make and execute the laws, there is no
moral sense which takes cognizance of
their real atrocity.
In a late number of the New York
Tribune is an article headed "Stabbing
her Betrayer." 1t narrates that Peter
S. Stappler, of No. 207, West Nineteenth
street, was going home from a place of
amusement with his wife and male
friend, when woman, "strikingly
handsome, and well dressed, rushed up
and attempted to stab him." She was
accompanied by small boy, whom she
led by the hand. After the blow was
struck, she threw away the dagger and
fled. Officer Curtis, of the Sixteenth
Precinct, intercepted her near Eighth
Avenue, and took her and the boy to
the station-house, followed by the in
jured man and a large crowd of men
and boys. She said that Mr.. Stappler
was the father of her boy, that "he had
made professions of love to her, telling
her she was the only woman be had
ever loved" He had now deserted her
in the basest manner, leaving her, she
said, when she was soon to become
mother a second time. Mr.. Stappler
preferred a charge of felonious assault
against her, and after having his wound
dressed by Police Surgeon Wade, went
home. The woman and the boy were
then locked up.
Mr.. Stappler is called "the injured
man." has his wound dressed, and goes
home. The outraged woman is locked
up with her little boy and her infinite
misery, to be brought out for trial and
for sure punishment. The wound she
inflicted the surgeon can dress, and time
will heal; but no lapse of time and no
surgeons skill can heal the hurt or
Soothe the pain caused by the base, cow
ardly and cruel crime of Mr.. Stappler
against this woman. But he is not
even mentioned as a criminal. He is
only "the injured man."
1t was only little time before this,
that Governor Robinson, of New York,
pardoned man who was in the State
prison for the crime of rape. When
such criminal can be pardOned, and
no remonstrance or objection is made,
it is not strange, perhaps, that in a case
like that of Mr.. Stappler, it is the wom-
an who is locked up, while "the injured
man" is allowed to go home. The pa
pers which reported the pardon by Gov
ernor Robinson, reported also the case
of two female shop-lifters who had been
convicted of attempting to steal a $40
camel's hair shawl. They were each
sentenced to four years and six months
in the penitentiary.
A Western paper reports the follow
ing:
I'D. and D." stood against the wom-
ans name, which was not her name,
but which answered the purpose well
enough for the big sergeant who, case
hardened as be was, had given a second
look at the young girl who called her.
self Mary Smith.
"They mostly do call themselves
Mary Smith, that kind" he remarked
to the reporter, as the girl quietly fol-
lowed the policeman who had drought
her in" and who now led the way to
the cells.
She was young,-not yet twenty
and herface, though stupid-looking now,
was fair, and not without some preten-
sion to beauty. Her figure, languid
and awkward in its movements as she
walked "back," was graceful in outline,
and the disorder that her dress was in
could not hide the fact that it had been
neat and orderly, though plain and
cheap, few hours before.
81 reckon there's a story there" said
the big sergeant, "and if you want it
you'd better go to court in the morn
ing"
The next morning the usual batch of
prisoners, charged with the usual often
ses, were marched into the courtroom,
and among them came Mary Smith,
marked on the calendar, as on the SER
geants blotter, I'D. and D."
well, Mary, tell US about it," said
His Honor, not unkindly, as his eye fell
on the face of the shrinking girl.
II have nothing to say" she replied,
doggedly.
but you are charged with being
drunk and disorderly," persisted the
Justice. "HOw was that ?''
81 suppose 1 was" she replied, in the
same cold voice.
"But you do not look like a bad girl.
How did you come to be drunk ?n
Heaven knows | was not bad yester-
day, sir" (She did not say "Your
Honor" It was evidently her first ap-
pearance in a police court.)
1t was not an ordinary case, and mo-
'tioning her back, the Justice disposed
of the few other remaining cases. and
then called her up so close that no one
but the reporter overheard the conver-
sation.
How did it happen?" he asked,
kindly.
81 met fra man know, lust as I
was going home from work last night.
and he asked me to go with him to the
theater in the evening. We went, aud
after the theater he asked me to take
supper with him. At supper l drank
one glass. of wine, and | remember no
more until late at night, when l was
awakened in a strange room and told
that could stay there no longer. was
dizzy and confused, and when [ found
myself on the sidewalk, think was
crazy. Everything since then has
seemed like dream"
'Your name is not Mary Smith ?"
"No, sir"
"You did not live at-Rivington
street? ?"
"No, sir"
this man ?"
mo, sir"
"Will you go home if I discharge
you ?"
"No, never"
His Honor let her go.
yesterday" whose "dress, though plain
and cheap" had 'evidently been neat
and orderly few hours before" and
who, the Judge said, did "not look like
bad girl" went out into the great
world alone, without protection or hope
protection.
30 Iar as appears, no effort was made
even to find the man who had. with de-