The Russellville Democrat., 1881-03-17
BELGIAN SCANDAL.
paris Letter New York Herald.

Paris Letter New York Herald.
 Public feeling in Belgium and in England is at this moment violently and painfully excited by the revelations that have just been made in Brussels. Eight wretches, most of them French, and forlr of them women, stood charged with decoying a number of unfortunate English girls from their homes and delivering them over forcibly and fraud ulently to continental houses of debauch- cry. These creatures form part of an or ganized confederacy, which has its head quarters in London. For many years they have been carrying on their trade unmolested by the Belgian police, and, indeed as there is too much reason to suspect, with it's connivance. Foolish girls have been spirited away from their friends and have disappeared forever or returned at last broken down in health, corrupted in morals and ruined in repu- tation. Theirabductors have been living meanwhile in perfect security, laughing at the endeavors made to save their vic tims At the first blssh such things seem quite incredible. There aie surely such officials as consuls and ambassadors. Belgium has its police as well as other civilized countries. You might have supposed nothing would have been easier than for the victims to appeal to the rep resentatiyes-of their nation for protection and to the foreign magistrates for redress. Yet it was not so, evidently, or we should never have had to read the heartrending story told at the trial by these poor English girls. Here, for instan e, Is the evidence of Miss Newland, who came into court attended by respectable old lady, and who it appears was once both pretty and yirtuous. Miss Newland made the ac- quaintance in London of the leader of the banda flashy and attractive man, then passing under the name of M. l Frederic Under promise of marriage NJ. Frederic persuaded her to follow him 1 to the continent, where the wedding was to be celebrated At Calais the villain sold the poor girl to an individual called Greaux. She was inscribed on the police list. Soon after she fell ill and had to be removed to a hospital, where, fortunately for her, she met clergyman who helped her to return to England. This is a spe- cimen of the way things were managed in France. In Belgium the devices re- sorted to by the conductors were very similar Generally they were careful to select young women ignorant of the French language for their victims. The temptations held out to induce them to leave England were varied to suit each particular case. Some were offered lu- crative places as servants or governesses. Others were deluded by the prospect of brilliant marriage Once in Brussels they were led like sheep to the police office known as the Bureau de Mpurs." There, without their having an inkling of the horrible trickery, they were ofii- cially registered. The rest was easy. Three girls--almost children-were in this way induced to proceed to Brussels by one of the prisoners, a man called Roger. One of them, named Tanner, had been promised marriage by Boger. To get her to go inside the Bureau des Meurs, he assured her it was the custom house. These are but two out of host of similar cases. Over 40 witnesses gave evidance at the trial, and much of their testimony was, to use the police court phraseology, unfit for publication" ]" Most of the prisoners were old offenders well known to the police. Their villainy was clearly brought home to them and denounced in scathing terms by the Procureur de Roi. The tribunal took time nevertheless, to consider its verdict. At length II made up its mind. The chief criminal, Roger, was sentenced to- 20 years hard labor, you imagine? Not at all. To two years imprisonment and trifing fine. GreauX got one years imprisonment and was fined l00f. A wretch called Mayer got 10 months inn prisonment and was fined 500f Another named Perpete, was let off with IS months. And, heaviest sentence of all three years imprisonment-was passed on man named Regnier, who did not female culprits, they were let off with slight fines. The decision of the Brus- sels magistrates is lenient to imbecility and reflects little credit on the Belgian bench. If the British authorities do not take the matter up energetically it will be surprising.