The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-09
TILE mLLLLE rLsDELL C1SE

let there be no mercy for those who
wrought the death Of poor Willie Tisdoll.
A beautiful girl, suffering the pangs OF
indiscrction comes TO this fair city to find
a dcathbed in a hoyol and a grave in the
Pottcr's Field. She was a trusting creature,
unlctlcrcd, ingenious, blind. She had
lightly tossed away the most precious pos
session of honorable womanhood, Clearly,
she did not realize the import Of her act
Like a wild flower by the wayside, joyous
in the sun, she tempted the passer-by.
Her life was unguardcd. No conven.
tionalities protected. She stood to be
seen, TO be admired, 10 be destroyed.
And thus il came about Her moral
nature had never been quickcncd by edu-
cation. When her heart throbbod, her
mind failed TO warn. Into The fire of an
idle love she cast her honor and raw IL
consumed without apprehension OF her
loss. The time came TO pay the penalty.
She was brave, because she had not yet
learned, poor Bird that she had been ut
tcrly discarded by those TO whom she had
yielded all that secures TO woman the in
ycstituro Of sanctity. She believed that
the extremity Of her punishment was
merely physical, and that, upon the ccssa-
ton Of bodily pain and restoration to
health, she would be just ~ she had been.
The idea that she had been betrayed seems
| 10 have taken no root IN her mind. She
knew she must hide, and she hid, rather
! from the instinct OF nature than from lear
OF the worlds scorn. How utterly pitia-
bel Society cannot Tor its tears see Il
east stones upon her. But what Of thos,
who put her away, their fatal lcchcry sat
isiicd, aud lett her 10 die 30 misorably'
The vocabulary Of oxccation contains nc
words that may adequately chamctcriz,
their bascncss. The dead girl may moi
have appreciated the iniamy Of those who
had brought her To such utter distress, bu
~ surely rs the sun shines upon the
grave Of their victim will dag
Of reckoning como b. her murlcrers. Tho
courts may fail Ia find links in evidence.
but "'Ncngcnc, Is mine, saith tho Lord,
and will repay" The crimes Of which
the physician and midwife stand charged
horrible though they be-, are, after all
merely scauculial. Tho blood Of Willie
Tisdcll is upon the heads Of the towards
whose deliberate lust sct in motion ia,
forces that crushed her. They had II al
their own way. They know how lrustiu
aud obcdicnt she was. They know size Wa
without rrscntmcnb. They knew she di'
not understand the laws OF society. The,
knew she would not give them away
Aud events proved they knew her we'll
True rs Toledo steel, she lay in hcI
narrow. noisomc chamber. attended by
yulturcs, her body mckcd by pain
that told OF her own consent TO criminal
ity, but through II all not u word Of com
plant, not syllable Of disclosure. II wa
her compensation 10 feel that she aloni
was suffering anl that, whom the pail
should be- over all her troubles would b,
gone. Every devil In hell laughed 10 80
such sport. Aud where are the skulkin,
scoundrrls who had Willie Tisdcll put {
DEATH They sent her here, they said, 3
stay until the storm blow over" Ma
the lightning Of that storm no, be stage
until Il shall have done is perfect wor
aud the pcrlition Of absolute NJ
cial ignominy, II not tho "a
lows OF the pcnitcn,iary, shall hay
been the fate Of every ono who has pa
licipaicd la this fearful crime. Let IA,
one be- sparcd the disgrace Of cxposur,
Lot the Prosecuting Attorney Of Publ
Opinion see 10 Il that they shall, each an
al, be- made 10 stand forth that soc.ci
may burn into their ioIchcads the seal ,
Is condemnation.
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