Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-01-15
DEcoYED TO RUIN.
Abducting English, Girls for Continental
Houses of Shame.

Public feeling in Belgium and in Eng
land is at this moment violently and
painfully excited by the revelations that
nave Just been made IN Brussels. Eight
wretches, most of them French and tour
Of them women, stood charged with de-
coying number of English girls from
Gheir homes md delivering them over
torcibly and fraudulcutIy to continental
houses Of debauchery. These creatures
form part Of an organized confederacy
which has its headquarters in London.
For many years they have been carrying
On their trade unmolested by the police,
and, indeed, as there is too much reason
TO suspect, with its connivance. Foolish
girls have been spirited away from their
friends and disappeared forever or re-
turned at last broken down in health,
corrupted in morals and RUNE d in repu-
.ation. Their abductors meanwhile liv-
ng in perfect security, laughing at the
antleavors to save their victims. At the
irst blush such things seem quite in
:redible. There are surely such officials
rs consuls and ambassadors. Belgium
lns lis police as we'll as all other civil
,zed countries. You might have sup
posed nothing would have been
easier than for the victims
10 appeal to the representatives OF
5heir nation for protection and to the
foreign magistrates for redress. Yet it
vas not so evidently, or we should never
nave had to read the heurtrending story
Told ut the trial by these poor English
girls. Here, for instance, is the evidence
Of Miss Newland. who came into court
attended by a respectable Old lady, and
who, it appears, was both pretty and vir-
tuous. Miss Ncwland made the acquain-
.ance, in London, of the leader OF the
banda llashy and attractive man, then
passing under the name Of M, Frederic.
under promises OF marriage NJ. Frederic
persuaded her to follow him to the conti-
nent, where the wedding was to be celc-
grated. At Calais, the villain sold the
Door girl to an individual called Greaux,
She was inscribed on the police list.
Soon after she fell i'll and had to be re-
moved to /; hospital, where, fortunately
,.or her, she met a clergyman who helped
ler to return to England. This is a
specimen OF the way things were man.
,gcd in France. In Belgium the devices
| resorted to by the abductors were very
similar. Generally they were carerful
! to select young women ignorant OF the
French language for their victims. The
temptations held out to induce then
to leave England were varied to suit
each particular case. Some whre Of
fered lucrative places as servants or gov
ernesses. Others were deluded by the
IN Brussels they were led like sheep tt
les Mnurs." There, without their hay
ing an inllling OF the horrible trickery
they were officially registered. The RESI-
was easy. Three girls-almost childre1
were in this way induced to proceed
to Brussels by one Of the prisoners, .
man called Roger. One of them, nance
Tanner, had been promised marriage b,
Roger. 70 get her to go inside the Blu
rean des MGnrs, he assured her that j
was the custom-house. These are bu
two of similar cases. Over forty wit
nesses gave evidence at the trial, an,
much Of their testimony, was, to us
police-court phraseology, unfit for pub
icatiop." Most OF the prisoner
were old offenders we'll know
to the police. Their villany was clearl
brought home to them and denounced i
scathing terms by the procurear du ro
The tribunal took some time neverles
to coslder It's verdict. AT length 1t mad
up it's mind. The chief criminal Rogc
was sentenced to twenty years har
labor, you imagine? Not at all. 70 tw
years imprisonment and a triiing fin
Greaux one year imprisonment, and We
fined 800 france. A wretch called Mayt
got ten months Imprisonment, and VIZ
lined GO francs. Another, named Serpet
was let of with eighteen months And IL
sentancc of all--thrce years imprisonmel
was pissed on man named Reguer wi
did not think it .prudent toappenr. AS t
the female culprits they were let o
, with Slight fines. The decision OF IL
I Brussels magistrate is leuient to imbecilit
and reflects little credit on the sense
morality OF the Beleginn bench. If Il
!. British authorities do not take Il
: matternp encrgelically, it will besurpri
&