Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-05-04
JENNIE CRAMER.
The Poor Girl Who Fell q Victim to
the Halley Boys.

the Aalley Boys.
"Gath's" New Haven letter to Gin. Enquirer.
This Jennie Cramer seems to inspire
respect in New Haven, because of a
general belief that she leaned toward
men not with low desire, but with a
childish heart. Therefore, there is
the more evaporation, that with her
credulous, gentle, errant nature she
should have been deceived, and, per-
haps, murdered. Besides, there is
the idea afoat that, although not the
possessor Of much mind or force Of
character, she did adhere to her
maiden estate, and would only have
surrendered herself to some extraor-
dinary inducement, such as promise
of marriage, pressed while she was a
prisoner in the house of her seducer's
uncle, unable to return to her mothers
cot, weak with want of sleep and
weariness and excess of wine. Girls
of her class are unable to buy wine
for themselves; and it appears in evi-
dence that the Malley boys piled the
champagne bottle, the sherry glass,
the mixed drink Of brandy or whisky
upon her.
Indeed we are lost in doubts and
marvels concerning this crime. The
only value it has to young women like
Jennie Cramer is the fact that they
are in perpetual danger while trifiing
with young men above their estate
and class, using liquor, keeping
doubtful company and late hours,
and that they never can know what
devils they have aroused in the male
sex by their very innocence. A
young woman, instead of resenting
the safeguards her parents throw
around her, ought to think her ever
lasting future is the cause of those
cares and endeavors. 1t is not the
object Of her parents to alter her
destiny in life, but only to direct it
toward that honorable estate where a
conscientious man shall become her
guardian and respect her like her
parents.
But there are thousands of young
girls in this, as in every country, who
like to slip away from the parental
roof, give their confidence to engag-
ing young men, often Of superior ad-
dress and worldly prospects, who
treat them to liquor, little presents,
excursions, and perhaps delude them
with social possibilities. If Jennie
Cramer had been girl bent on her
own ruin, probably that expression
would have extended to her commu-
nifty; but she bears the reputation in
New Haven of a girl brought up with
less than American restraints, and
yet with the American instincts to-
ward higher class of young men
than her own, and that to them, as
she fell a victim, she is entitled to
sympathy, and they merit the law.
As l write these lines 1 am looking
into her portrait. There are two
pictures before me. One of them
represents a rather stolid-faced girl,
with a small nose, a rich mouth and
long chops-something like shop
thief in appearance. The other pict-
ure, which would seem to be taken
more directly from life, shows a cred.
ulous, childish face, aware of its own
prettiness, accustomed to be spoken
to even by strangers, expecting nc
harm, yet with a self-respect and
feeling of virtue.
Every poor girl who aspires above
her class is more or less subject te
insidiOus reaches and sieges toward
the citadel of her virtue. Sometimes
by education, or pride, or force, she
triumphs over these plots and marie:
above her condition, and is enviet
and perhaps comfortable. But the
fate of many thousand such solicit
ing the attention Of young men above
her is either disappointment or extrav
agance, or the misery and degreda
ton of being deceived. Many thou
sand such are never heard of, being
hustled and shaken in the Highways
of the world, and finally troddeI
under foot. But at the first loss of he
maiden charater, if it is accompanied
with her decease by violence, ther,
arises one Of those warnings youn,
men ought to take to heart, shown.
them that there is no crime in .th'
world which VII track their Who'll,
life like the betrayal of girl. Su
lpreme selfishness lies close to tn
earelessness which seduces q woman
No man. however young, is excused
from considering the hazard womal
takes in listening to his seductions.
i The whole question of principle il
man is connected With his attitud
toward woman. The Ms'ley boy
seem to have had no principle abou
this beautiful wayfarer in their com
mon home Of New Haven. Instea,
Of being pleased that such an inter
esting creature should walk thei
streets and beautify their town, the
undertook to surround her nature
debauch her chastity and possess he
body. The took dcspicable mean:
whether they be innocent or guilty c
her murder, to inflame low desires j
her through the prostitution the
/ brought to New Haven. 1t woul