Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-11
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER II.

THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER IL.
THE INCREASE OF CRIME in this country
and from what we can learn in every otnef'
continues. it seems, to an alarming eAten'
OF late years it has been Impossible 10
glance over a newspaper without having
ones sensibilities shocked or nerves uh-
strung at some horrible recital OF olooosneo
Or be;neous violation of innocence, and IN
MANI cases too. narrated IN o manner unht
for delicate ears In one issue alone l'as'
Tuesday's) of leading paper of this coun-
trv the accounts Of murders, assaults, sui
cides and other species of crime exceeded
every other feature of the journal. Among
the most fragrant might BIZ cited, first,
horrible case of infantcide which occurred
in New York. A policeman while walking
bis heat on what is known as Pleasant
avenue, kicked against what he supposed
to be bundle of rags. it appearing heavy,
however, he picked it up and found the
parcel to be wrapped in paper, but quickly
dropped the same upon feeling warm
LIQUID course over his hands. At that In
slant the moon burst from behind cloud
bank, and by her beams the conservator OF
the peace discovered the ghastliness OF the
bundle-an innocent babe, not then cold,
with its head almost severed from the oooy.
Horrible as is such crime-murderlng IN
cold blood an innocent ofspring-it Is one
by no means uncommon in large cities, 1t
being in no way surprising to drivers OF
garbage carts in New York to find bodies
of dead infants in slop and ash barrels. The
crime of infanticide is, of course, occasion
ally committed in smaller places. Even
our own, as general thing quiet, commu-
nity has had fiends in it at times who per-
formed the same terrible deed, and OLD 10
tomac has more than once cast upon lis
shores the mutilated remains of what bad
once been living, guieless infant, who by
the act of an unnatural parent had been
forced to join the ranks of those whom we
are assured compose in great measure the
kingdom of heaven. But, to pass on The
III ASN'N'S
of the paper alluded to was that of four
year-old girl-child lisping her evidence IN
Chicago court against two young men at
whose hands she had suffered nameless evil.
Then follows an atfray in Chattanooga be-
tween two men rivals for the affections OF
lady, in which both were killed. then an
attempt on the part of train robbers to
wreck heaviy-laden passenger train, in
no way concerned as TO the number that
might be killed or crippled 80 large booty
was secured then the bloody endeavor OF
man in Buffalo to eviscerate companion
the firing of a residence in Raleigh, N. C.,
by disgruntled negro servant the murder
of an old man and his son by man in
Port Jervis n. Y, with whom the couple
were bargaining for the sale of a horse the
assassination of the principal witness in
murder case at Galena, Kan, by brother
of the culprit; together with several other
murderous ARRAYS in different parts OF the
country. Suicides and attempts at the same
are so frequent in the larger cities that but
small space is devoted to such items. There
is hardly day that the East river fails to
force to its surface the blackened and bloat.
ed corpse of some individual who by his
own rash act had launched himself into the
unseen world. To show the desperation OF
some of such characters when bent on self
destruction the case of respondent New
York tailor is cited. The man 10 question,
growing weary of his monotonous calling,
took seven boxes Of matches and, scraping
off the heads, made mixed drink of sui
phur and water and swallowed the same.
Not dying quick enough, be saturated his
clothing thoroughly with coal oil, applied a
light to the same and sitting down awaited
the final moment when, as he supposed, he
would be transported from further sorrow
and tribulation through the medium of fire.
His plight, however, was discovered by the
neighbors, the would.be suicide rolled in
carpets, which smothered the flames, and
with the aid of stomach pump he was
forced to disgorge his deadly potion. It is
q crime in New York to attempt self
destruction; it has become common thing
for police justices in that city to have indi.
viduals before them for no other offence
than that of attempted suicide. In the face
of such CHASTITY array of every day occur
rences, the question, Is the world retro
grading to antediluvian days? is pertinent
one.
WASHINGTON, in his Farewell Address to
the people of the country, was careful to
warn them against the dangers of foreign
entanglements. Since that time, until the
Arthur administration, his wise advice was
followed, with the happiest result. But the
republicans, under Mr.. Arthur, could not
let we'll enough alone, but set that advice