San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-20
SAN ANTONIO INDIGNATION.
The lnhuman Treatment of Rosa
Schmidt, the Poor Convict.

The Inhuman Treatment of Rosa
Schmidt, the Poor Convict.
Probably no incident in recent years
has ocoasioned such Indignation in San
Antonio as that In which Rosa Schmidt
appears chained by the neck to a negro
At first this sentiment was mainly con.
fined to the Germans, but ere long II
was evident that the sentiment was cos
mopolitan and Indignation was ex-
pressed on all sides. Such q scene In a
free and enlightened country could hard
ly be tolerated. Even despotic Russia
has more regard for the females than
that concerned by the guard who suit
mitted Rosa Schmidt TO that unneces-
sary degradation. The south has also
been famous for its chivalrous action
towards woman, and Texas has been no
exception. Men OF the city feel ashamed
that in this, the 10Th century, a
woman, even though convicted crimi-
nal, was dragged through the streets
chained by the neck to negro Slavery
rarely, II ever, presented such degrad.
ing spectacle. And this act OF an ire
sponsible foolish penitentiary officer
will be used by adverse northern and
eastern papers to our detriment Such
indeed Ia the feeliDg Of the people, "a
openly expressed on the streets, and so
strong indeed Is the sense OF indigna-
ton that II the penitentiary officer re-
sided in the city or the suburbs, IL would
not be safe to issue an insurance policy
upon his life.
This feeling of indignation lie taking a
practical shape and means are being
RI "A Etaa
placed by stranger upon San
AntOnio's fair fame. A public in
dignstion meeting will be held at the
court house tonight, and IL Is said
strong resolutions will be passed con-
demning the practice, and calling for the
dismissal of the inhumsn guard.
Another phase OF this question will be a
petition for the pardon Of the poor girl.
She was an ignorant servant girl, and IL
10 quite clear that she presented the
forged cheque at the bank, but as far as
the LIGHT can learn, the writing was
not hers and that In this matter she was
simply the tool Of enc whose identity
affection causes her to conceal. The
signature bore no more resemblance to
her masters signature than Robert
BrOwnlng's hieroglyphics have to tho
beautiful csligraphy Of George Augustus
Sala, and none but an ignorant girl
would think OF presenting such a cheque
at the bank under circumstances that
must lead to her detection and arrest.
That she, was guilty OF uttering
a forged cheque no one can deny and the
jury were comps lied to convict her. but
Judge Noonan, District Attorney Pas
chal aud the jurors have recommended
her for executive clemency. The ladies
OF the Woman's Exchange have inter.
ested themselves in this matter and pre-
pared petition TO the governor asking
her pardon. That petition is at the
rooms and is being extensively signed.
Ii will remain open for signature until
O'Clock, when 1t will be sent to Austin
for the governors consideration. The
justice OF the case will be fairly met By
the governor dlscharging the prisoner
with the Christ-like admonition-'go,
and sin no more"
Many ladies called at the rooms OF the
Woman's Exchange this morni ng and
signed the petition. That document
condemns the outrage upon Rosa
Schmidt, calls for her pardon and asks
for the dismissal of the penitentiary off,
cial who chained her In the manner des-
cribed.