Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1878-08-13
AN INCESTUOUs FATHER.

There are some crimes which are so foreign
to the imagination that their preparation is
not anticipated in the theory of criminal Jurls-
prudence They are unmentioned Of the sta,
tutes and therefore unrestrair d by any pen
atty. There are, however, general laws
against the revolving crime of incest, as there
are also enactments against the brutal crime
of rape So that even in the case related III
the following there is, happily, method and
measure of punishment-c slow
as that method may be and inadequate as such
measure undoubtedly is. The Ward white
Pine county, Refer relates the following re-
markable story:
On Thursday morning last this community
was startled with the announcement that e.
R. Luddington of this place had been arrest
ed for the revolving crime of an assault with
intent to commit rape on his daughter Mary,
aged about Is years. On inquiry this rumor
proved to be true, for at 10 o'clock the defend
ant was brought before Justice hurry by
Deputy Sheriff j. c. Edwards, for examna-
ton, charged with this most Infamous crime.
He appeared and entered plea of 6 not gull
ty," and tho examination was set for l o clock
At the hour named G. l.. Waters appeared tor
the prosecution, and the defendant wishing
no attorney, the examination commenced,
after excluding from the Courtroom all per
sons save the officers, attorneys, defendant
and prosecutrix in the case, whose testimony
the Court deemed proper to be taken as Prl-
vate as the circumstances of the case would
permit, and the law in such cases Indicated
We have no means of knowing what the tcs-
timony of the prosecutrix was, but have since
been informed that the details of her evidence
exposed one of the most hOrrid and revolving
crimes that even the semblance Of a man could
be guilty of, let alone the fact that such mon
ster was the father on trial. The rule being
rescinded after the testimony of the daughter,
the Court was open to all, when other wit
nesses were called, who corrOborated many
material facts testified to by the prOsecutrlX
which made the case appear so damnInG and
revolving to the human mind that several left
the Courtroom with disgust. with curse and
a curl on their hips that plainly indicated their
feelings within. After the close OF the testl-
mony Judge Waters made a short but touch
ing speech on behalf of the prosecution, and
submitted the case to Justice Murray, who
Immediately held the prisoner to answer the
charge, fixing the bail at 81, 800. This the
defendant could not give, and was taken to
Hamilton Thursday night Ill charge Of Deputy
Sheriff Edwards. We are forbidden to some
extent from giving details OF the testimony,
owing to their revolving character, but suffice
it to say that the attempt Of the defendant to
commit the inhuman crime on the person OF
his daughter had been made on several occa-
sions before last Wednesday night, but were
not Of the violent character that at last COM
PEELED his daughter to call for assistance to
prevent her father from etfccting her ruin,
That the people of Ward were excited to a
degree unknown to this community for some
time past can readily be imagined In times
past the inhuman monster would have been
subjected to coating of tar and feathers to
start with, leaving ont of the question ex-
IRENE measures. Some of the former friends !
of Luddngton refused to helieve at first the !
reports that reached them, several days before |
the arrest, regarding the advances he had |
made to his daughter, and watch was set. |!
The eliminating point was reached Nednes |
day between IL and II o'clock, when all |
doubt was removed, and it was found neces-
sary to come to the rescue, which few de-
termined men did, and released the daughter !
through a window, that had to be torn out |
sash and all Armed men then guarded the
house until warrant was issued by Justice
Murray when Luddington was arrested and
tried with the result given above. Judge g.
L. Waters has been retained by the citizens
TO assist the prosecution before the District
Court. subscription was taken up imme-
liately after the preliminary examination for
hat purpose, which was literally responded