Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-15
GUILTY OF MASKING.
THE GREEK, CON-
vICTED YESTERDAY.
The Taking of Testimony Ended and the
Arguments Made-It Takes but
Ten Minutes to Geta
Verdict.

The case of Angelo MoropolIs, the
Greek, who has frequently figured in
the local courts for attempting to mash
young women on the streets, was up
again before Judge Smith yesterday.
Jesusita- Lopez, the fair complaining
witness, her sister Theresa and Mrs. l..
R. Fraser were placed on the stand in
rebuttal of Moropolus's testimony. Then
Deputy District Attorney Diehl opened
for the prosecution, and resorted to the
fact that Moropolus was a sort of
"Peeping Tom," and that he had been
repeatedly on trial for like offenses. At
torney. G. @. Stephens, the attorney
for the defense, announced long story
of honied sweetness in behalf of
his client. He held that he was tenn
porarily crazed and drunken with love;
that he ought to be sent to an asylum
for victims OF pure love. Moropolus
was in the garden looking into the win
dow of Miss Lopez bedchamber; he
was like that poor, love-sick lunatic,
Romeo, when he courted Juliet. But,
unlike Romeo, he did not hide behind a
rose bush. ''Oh, the power of love !"
said Mr.. Stephens; cit causes men to
shoot women; it makes men lay down
their lives for the worst drab of the
streets; it causes them to forsake home,
country and honor and abrogate integ-
rity. This young man stood out in the
broad moonlight fearless in his love-"
After casting this rhetorical gem Mr..
Stephens wiped off bis chin and pro-
ceeded to say that there was something
antique something of the old Greek and
the old Roman, about Moropolus' man.
ner of love-making, and painted this
modern Caliban with the attributes of q
satyr, as a saint fresh from the pure and
holy plains of glory. Fs6
Mr.. Diehl was very practical in his
closing argument, and quoted the law
and submitted the cold facts. Miss
Lopez was a student at the normal
school, and had beenIannoyed and perse-
cuted by Moropolus for two years.
She disliked notoriety, and had
finally been driven to ask the
protection of the law. Moropolus had
violated all rules of etiquette and man
hood. There was nothing in ancient
history or literature or in the loves of
Romeo and Juliet that would cast halo
of romance or give justification to a
Peeping Tom who would stand outside
the window of young woman's bed
chamber at night aud peep through the
blinds. Moropolus was monster
Mr.. Stephens-I object; the evidence
does not show it.
Judge Smith-Proceed, Mr.. District
Attorney.
Mr.. Diehl-Moropolus is five parts
masher and five parts conceit, He
walks about the street ogling and follow
ing young women. He belongs to the
most despicable class of men in this
community, and it is time such men
were rebuked. Juno, goddess of connu-
bial love, must have wept when Mr..
Stephens set up the claim that this
masher in prosecuting Miss Lopez, was
actuated by the pure and holy passion
OF love. cit is time that the people of
Los Angeles should know whether their
wives, daughters and sisters shall be
protected from the importunings and
brazen impertinences of these profess
sional mashers."
The case was submitted to the jury,
and as it was composed of Californians
rugged and strongin principle, they took
a few minutes time to fill out the neces-
sary forms and returned verdict of
guilty. 1t took ten minutes to put their
verdict in shape for the court.
Moropolus will be sentenced. this
morning by Judge Smith,