The New York herald., 1877-02-18
A VILLAIN EXPOSED.
History Of a Licentious Jersey
SchoOlmaster.
SHIELDED "FOR HER SAKE"
A Case Where Jersey Justice is Sadly
Needed

II 10 between Six and seven miles from Toms River
to Manchester, u pretty but struggling village, in
which New Jersey characteristics happily blended
with New England enterprise that has crcpt ir with
manufactures The road Is over drcary waste OF
pine lands, with stretches OF barren sands. When the
weather is pleasant the ride Is BILE enough hut
when tho wind whistles through ghosty pines and
the ground Is covered with snow the scene must be
wild and cheercss that of the Asatic steppes In
the barroom Of the village inn, whcro cheerful fro
Is blazing in the CRATE chat IS had with Boniface.
The old mans rosy cheeks and tell tales OF
upple iack and egg nog that made the winter nights
pass checrily. He VIII drink with you and toll you
stories of old times and odd places but he very
cent when tho one subject paramount in your mind Is
broached and ono would think he had heard OF
William II. Moon. Yet Mr.. Moon Is just now upper
most Ia the thoughts Of half tho people OF Manchester
Mr. Moon is tho late schoolmaster OF the village known
to every urchin and taxpayer OF tho town II his
quanance had extended further there would be
lighter hearts IN Ocean county tonight
ADVENT on roM's RIVER.
In war times Mr.. Moon had considerable no,oriety
He what was thcn known as ''bounty jumper, -
and the odor OF past adventures and escapes hung
around him when he came to Toms River summon
evening ten years ago Ho blonde. of medium
which made him Dppular with the young men, while
II did not lessen his charms In the eyes of tho ladies'
HIS education had not been neglected. aud he had
quired somewhere assurance, IL quality sometimes
called ''cheek," that was simply marvellous Tho
advent OF such an Individual Is SURPRISE and usually
pleasant one, in a small town. and many glad
when they learned us one old gentleman expressed it,
that 'he to stay.n Mr.. Moon took board in the
village, and when he had become quite avorire sent
in application to tho appointment as
schoolmaster He was promptly elected, and AT once
entered upon his duties limo passed. and. with tho
exception that Mr. Moon was litte inclined
to late hours and dissipation, no prospcred fairly At
the expiration Of years. and alter bret court
ship, he married very pretty and estimable young
lady who resided the town. and to his old
companions that he had ''sowed his wild oatsn His
marriage gave him rcspectabIty he had before
possessed and he for time ceased 10 give the gossps
FOR SPECULATION.
But gradually he relapsed into owl ways Kumors
rife connecting his name with the sullied reputa
tion OF young ladies who had become "ndscrcet" as
the phrase ran, in their fliratons with tho school
master Moons wife, a modest, retiring OF per-
son. bore her wrongs In silence which aggravated the
elderly maiden ladies inclined TO scandal over their
tea and they made united effort discover all tho
attainabe facts II was ono morning, two years ago.
that Toms River was first ablaze with discovery
OF Mr.. Moons perhdy. young and very
when the secret could be no longer concealed. OF
course there was great deal of feeling among tho
friends OF the young lady IN question: and somo threats
counsel prevailed, and with tho plea. ''or tho girls
sake, the matter was hushed up. MIR. Moon
tanned " charge OF the school, and daily with smiling
visago taught the young men and the misses moral
lessons from the popular renders nger Toms
ton OF the town that great prize was
possessed in Mr.. Moon, and none OF the oit-
zens Tor instant doubted the proprcty Of sending
to him their daughters for instruction. Mr. Moon's
downfall resulted indirectly iron the Ohio crusade.
One OF the Toms River school trustees having vcn-
tured away from the apple jack country long enough
to imbibe temperance principles came back with u
determination TO reform tie town--by means II con-
venicnt but in any TO reform IL. He was COM
that he must abandon his evil courses. Tho school,
master promised, and the very next night he was
drunker than ever. ''rhs,n said the trustee, ''is
rank dissipation and disgrace TO the school-go you
must" And Mr.. Moon went.
his CAREER MANCHESTER.
ne went TO Manchester, and was appointed principal
OF the public school, He brought his wife with him,
and her sweet ways won every heart. Mr.. Moon mad
not lost power to charm by his pleasant, nsnuating
manner, either from dissipation grief at leaving
Toms River. Tho faires: and one OF the youngest
OF HIS pupils attracted him and no abando toned his
firtations with tho others, rcservn2 all his arts
and graces Tor her car ana eye. She was innocent
as she was beautiful sho mad no suspicion
that evil lurkcd in hls soft smiics and
ardent glances, and woman like, rathor
pleased aud haticred by . the attentions he
during school hours bending over her chair assisting
her in difficult lessons or advising her. tor the sake OF
her bright cycs and rosy cheeks to abandon those
she found distastclu. sometimes, without any ap-
parent reason, he would be angry with her and speak
sharply Then, after little, he would start round
her desk and, whispering In her ear, beg nor TO tor
give him. To these requests she would grant
priscd acquiescencc, and then his face would beam
all over with smiles, and he seemed TO be
usually happy. Sometimes he would deiain her In tho
school alter the other scholars had gone accus-
ing her of some imaginary fault When they were
tOpe or nm
change. He would sit By her side aud talk Of his ad-
ventures and the wonders OF the great world beyond
thcm. He read poetry to her. but, most OF all, he
talked OF love and lovers, described the unhappncss
Of man who the victim Of an il-advsci marriage
and told her all his suncrings from such source lie
began to write her tender ep,stics that blossomcd
TnaIiy into burning declarations OF love, and lct them
between the leaves of her school books Fattered by
the honey OF his words and his undsguised admiration
she gave him all her confidence
ATTEMPTING TO OUTRAGE rurII.
One day he promised her "A present but would not
tell her what il should be- Hc teazcd her with guess
ing and anghiDgy avoided telling her It's nature iii
she grew ieyershiy expectant AT last he told her 10
come TO the school house Saturday night and she
would receive it, 'Comc, SAID he, ''at o'clock,
and don'i keep me waiting longer" AT O'Clock
Knocked at the door. ~ was opened by Mr. Moon,
who sad, "Comc In, dear; come in" The child
schoomaster which alarmed and dsconccrtcd her.
lie stepped forward, repeating eagerly. Come in "
Then she asked hin, hssi,alngly. what
he wanted, and without further parlcy
he put forth arm, and catching her
round the waist drew her into the room Lifting
her li2h form, he carried her struggling remote
corner. nc sat down and Lwincd his arms about her,
while she continued her efforts escape. lie rained
kisses upon her lips, neck ana shoulders while he
tore the drapery from her bust. With bound she
freed herself and dashed across the lie caught
her IN dozen steps, ana she threw up her hands,
begging him to let her pull the curtains down. lie
released then with hcndis grin, shc gaming
the window, threw up tho sash and eapcd to the
ground. He was again behind her. and, extending his
hand. cutchcd her dress tearing IL from her person.
but drawing her toward HIM. As he lifted her
more through the window she gave loud scream,
ana her terror haviu. at last found tongue,
she emitted cry upon cry. Then the villains heart
tailed nm, and. fearing some passer-by might hear
cries. he again released her. THIS time he did fol-
low her. She lcapcd through the open window once
aud sped across the cids to her fathcrs house
crying ana sobbng us she ran. Throwing herself In
ncr mVthcrs embrace she became bystericaI aud IL
iong before could Toll, ia broken accents
the peril she had passed. Her clothing was torn IN
snrcds, her arms bruised and her wis swollen. Her