Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-06-23

power to accomplish his hellish purpose,
threw her upon the ground and with a
dull jack knife haggled and cut her
throat from eur to ear, and left her in
the woods for dead. He was tried, found
guilty, and sentenced to the state prison
for twenty years at hard labor. The
state has fed and clothed him, and he is
fat and healthy, and vows vengeance on
those who prosecuted him, and will be
turned loose upon this community In
seven years more. just in the prime Of
life, with years before him in which to
plan and execute his revenge.
Again, two young men were prosecuted
for rape on a little girl seven years old,
and through legal bubbles about her
competency to give evidence got clear of
the crime of rape, but the evidence Of
abuse to the little girls person was SO
marked that something had to be done
to satisfy the law, and they were each
sent to the house of correction at IOnia
for six months. Still again, man sixty
years old was arrested for rape on his
two little grand children, aged respect
lively eight and eleven years, and their
story in regard to the crime was simply
sickening to listen to, yet through the
great and glorious machinery of the law
this old sinner was cleared.
And yet again young devil in human
shape, about thirty years of age, assault
cd an old and decrepit woman over 20
years of age on public street, knocked
her down in the snow. and attempted a
rape upon her person, but was scared
from his victim by the neighbOrs gath
ering around him, attracted by the cries
of the old lady. The majesty of the law
was indicated and deaf and blind JUS
tice satisfied with sending this brute to
state prison for one year, after full
hearing and conviction before jury of
twelve men of this county.
We might add to the list, but enough
has been said to illustrate the point. 1t
was evident to our citizens, adequate
protection to the lives and persons of
their mothers, wives, daughters, and even
infants, was not vOuchsafed to them by
the law, and the frequency of these
crimes convinced them ttat heroic
and vigorous measures were necessary
to put stop to them. No quieter and
more Iaw-abiding citizens reside in
Michigan than live here, but underneath
that quiet there exists firm determine
tiOn to protect their wives, mothers and
daughters from tramps and their cham
pions, whether they come from Alpena,
Detroit, or elsewhere, and when the law
fails to protect, and even though it some
times attempts. is defeated by pardon.
then be assured that we, the people, the
sOvereigns of this community, will pro-
tect ourselves.
The columns of the TRIBUNE are open
for the expression of an honest opinion
from any responsible. represen tative
source, hOwsoever the opinion may differ
from our own. We have respect for one
who has brains and courage to maintain
his opinion, and contempt for an
Opinionless creature. We have on all
current events positive opinion that
will be fearlessly expressed in manner
to be understood by all, and only ask
for ourselves what we cheerfully accord
to all ordinary mortals, respectful con-
sideration of an honest opinion. We
may be wrong on any subject, but will
not be guilty Of the unmanly weakness
of having no rational opinion on any