Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-31
THE MURDER IND IT'S LESSON.

The murder OF young Larkin on Sunday
evening is greatly to be deplored, yet it may
prove wholesome lesson to class of our
population that has long stood in need of it.
The offense of the murdered man was that
he and his companions grossly insulted two
young girls upon the street, and assaulted
their escort when he demonstrated with them
for their rowdyish conduct. Whether or not
the assault was of such serious character
as to warrant resort to extreme measures
in self defense is matter that will be de-
termined on the trial. One thing is certain:
the offense was an aggravated one, and the
guilty parties richly deserved sound beat
ing that would reader them incapable of re-
peating it for months to come. If all three
had been beaten to within an inch of their
lives the unanimous verdict of the commu-
nifty would have been, served them right.
st. Paul is overrun with horde of young
hoodlums whose chief occupation after
nightfall seems to be to loaf around the
street corners and insult all ladies' who pass
either by addressing them personally or by
making use of some offensive remark in
their hearing. Women walking alone are
subject to insult at almost every step. If
they happen to be in couples they are
scarcely less free from the vile advances of
these rufians, while in many parts Of the city
man and his wife can scarcely pass along
the streets without having their ears greeted
by some foul remark uttered with insulting
intent. These hoodlums travel in gangs of
two or more, and if exception is taken to
their conduct are always ready fora knock
down argument. Most people prefer to pass
their insults by in silence rather than engage
in a street brawl by way
of resenting them and run the risk
of broken head. jackson, part
Of Wabashaw, Third and Fort streets are
especially infested by these disreputable fell
lows, who imagine every woman they see
upon the street to be prostitute and are
spelling for a fight with any person who
dares to protest against their insolent and
coward conduct.
Every citizen of st. Paul who has had oc-
casion to traverse the streets after nightfall
is aware of this state of affairs. A gentle
man, be he ever go we'll known, who takes
lady on his arm for an evening stroll, is liza
BILE to be greeted at any street corner or in
/ front of many saloons by ribald Jest or
vulgar insinuation directed at the lady in his
company, be she wife, sister, daughter or
friend. The police know of this state OF
things, but have done little to correct it. It
is not, perhaps. their fault, for if they make
arrests they find it difficult to obtain convic-
tions because of the fact that those who were
insulted are 10th to appear in the police
court to give the testimony necessary to Sc
cure conviction. A modest woman general
ly prefers to endure insult rather than the
publicity she will obtain by prosecuting the
dastards who affront her.
It is time that this evil was abated. If it
Is not done soon there will be more blood
shed. Decent men will not submit to hay
ing their lady friends tainted at every turn
by lot of half drunken loafers with no
respect for themselves or any one else. The
GLoBE does not think that knives and pistols
are the proper agencies to correct this evil,
but 9 good bludgeon, dextrously and vigor-
ously welded, might 60 good way towards
mitigating it. A few broken heads among
the hoodlums of ST. Paul would cause all
decent citizens to rejoice.