New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-29


complete.
Mr.. Steads defence lay in two words--good mo-
tives He had broken the law, but he had q be-
nevoent purpose in doing so. He appealed to the
jury TO break it again by returning verdict or ac-
qnittal against the law, against tho facts against
their oaths. What MIR. Justice Lopes says on this
point is admirable. Assuming the existence OF
good motives saws this excellent judge,
1T is no answer to this charge, any more
then the absence of corrupt motives would BIO an
answer. Is the law Of the land to be violated with
IMMUNITY because person thinks some good end TO
be servedi If that were permitted, instead OF
being governed by fixed law we should be gov
erned by sentiments, and. for anything know. by
the caprces of individuals. Is the sanctity OF an
English home to be invaded because some partic-
ular individual has strong opinions on particular
mattcrsf suppose Mr Stead does not prove of
the way We bring up our children and thinks we
are letting the go rlin is he TO be nj liberty to
enter our homes and :sk, away those children in
order to bring them up ~ he likes II was 10 pre-
vent this that this sautary act of Par Lament was
passed. Aud Mr. Justice Lopcs told the jury:
" The ouly question isfor admittedly Jarrett and
Stead took the girl cut of her fathers custody
was the taxing against Tn" Will OF the fatnerf
That is all Won havo to try Probably nothing
but the iirmncss and lucdity OF the Judge kept the
jury straight. Mr.. Ste I'd got great hold on their
sympath a.. His speech in his own behalf was
adroit. pas9lolatc, very able. aud perfectly un-
scrnpnlons appeal to spurious susccptlblltles.
So much for the legal part of tho matter. Mr..
stead IN my opinion, was fairly eniently trlod'
justly colyic ell. and JUSTLY though inalcqnately,
sentenced But hls offence against the law Is the
least of his offences. The abduction of Eliza ARM
strong was violation OF tho statute. of an honest
home, aHd of private rights IL was however, only
incident IN ;ho dOu1s OF the secret commission
which Laid the foundation for tho publication IN
Tho FaH MAI GG;5tt OF the Maiden Tribute and
that was n crime against society itself. The Arm
strong case the proteXt for the most startling
0f all the hdcOus stories told in this print, the
Lily case. Tho identity of the two Is admitted
That 10, far ~ the Lily story has ally basis In
fact, the basis Il tho CHASTITY experience OF Eliza
Armstrong; far short that stops of the printed
account. With reference to the Lily story. Mr.
Stead declared in print: d" | can personally youch
FOR the absolute accuracy OF the facts III tins case
In the witness box he had to adlnt that he knew
little about It parao ally, that the narrative he
published was really com Jc1 from the statements
of agents, and know, sand the Judge, that many
of The statements are all olutcly false Mr. Stead
printed what Jarrett told him, made no inquiry
into the truth or f1scness of the stories,
were deliberate lies What reason Is there TO
suppose the rest of the Maiden Tribute" better
founded IN fact We have seen where Mr. Stead
goes for hts evidence whom he cplsulis. and what
his powers OF distinguishing between truth and
falschood
HIS revelations reveal nothing. Wha: is true
is not new and what is ncw - not true. The at
tempt to prove that tho rich the Nioiators of the
daughters Of the poor has failed ludIrrously. |
may repeat what was said 10 me by a lady who
knows tha subject well, aud whose devotion to the
cause of fallen women Is tainted by no seeking for
notoriety DuiWR a long period, moro than ave
thousond cases have posed IN Ter her notice She
has talked with each OF these women; they have
told her their story and the origin of their tail
She has n rec ri OF the whole Dat Of 5000, III"
number - no traced IA ir ram To- a man IN VA Of
hfc above their own was-how may do you think
Plf,rcu When Mr.. S;oud wai threatened with
pruseruton under Lord CamporlPs act for 1nppress-
Ing obscene publications, hc an'""rcd, Prosecute
# you ike (; | wish ypn would. Bat you viii COM
mel mo th,n TO publish what | have hitherto sup
prcsscd-tb names OF tho IN high station guilty
u thcsc IuflmieS" IL ~ an example OF Mr.
S'cad's unscrupuluusness that wren no said ths,
hc knew he could not DO wha, he threatened. The
truth woutd be no defence - prosecution the
only question wplld have boen. was 1t obscene
within the meaning of tho actf Bat his menace
was based Oh falSch,od. ln had no sucf
names Ito had a list. bat tho list included
uohndy Of rank or social position. II the crimes
which Mr.. stead has described are committed at
all they are committed bY unknown mcn. They
are unknown in the elias, which he attacked and
tired to hold mp 10 public contempt Every inquiry
has been made naong surc to b. aware of tho
thing II it existed. The universal testimony il that
it does not exist IN that class 81 IS 80 rare a. 10 be
unhcard of.
Yet this is tho narrative which Mr. Stead took
upon Ii mself the responsibility of publishing and
Of selling broadcast tn tho streets of London aud
throughout England. II was pruriont lnStylr, hlthy
IN substance; an obscene publication # ever there
wasone. Again we are told. wore told in de-
fence of the abduction Of Eliza Armstrong Mr.
Stcad's motive was good. He wanted to pass the
Criminal Law Amendment Act and he claims that
he did. There a o several answers 20 that. In
making the first | am AZ present m minority.
The Criminal Law tmeldmcnt Act is not good but
a most mischieN0n' act. IL mnltpc' offences, en-
larccs penalties lends ,selfr1siy 10 barknail, and
for this and oth-r reasons ~ likely in tho opinion
of good judges 10 he repealed within five years
But the real objection 20 il lies deeper. IL Will
tend to increase and not 70 diminish the class OF
CRIME il il meant 10 ropross. luii4t dt great eX-
pcrence and great authority made, with reference
TO this subject. II very St'klng remark that he
would. if he could, repeal every law making inter-
course between tho sexes criminal, cases Of rape
only excepted. This on the ground that the oh
jcct of law il rcUressivc not vmdlctIve; TINT the
good of society iwholc - sought and that every
prosecution for snch 01encos Invariably incIteS to
tho commission of other simil Offences, By Great
ing morbid interest IN them. Aud the
fact is, hear on police
authority, that though but Few
months have passed. since tins new nc' became law
the number Of such Offences has increased. aud Is
rapidly increasing. The second answer IL that. IN
the opinion OF Mr.. Gladstone. Of SIR William liar
court and of Others IN position 70 know, tho act