The herald., 1895-11-15
TIE WOMEN ARE AROUSED
There Will Be No Juggling With Nice
Legal Points
His Associates Lead to Threats Of
Summary Vengeance

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. A.-The nm
| speakable crimes which have been COM
mtted upon children of this city and of
which Captain Peter F. Lane and his
associates are accused, have aroused the
women OF San Francisco to pitch OF
indignation almost without parallel.
While the fathers and friends of the girls
are threatening acts of summary veng-
eance, women and mothers in every part
OF the city are organizing to insure swift
and unoorrupted prosecution of the ac-
cused men. The mothers are determined
to make a general and effective crusade
against vice the alarming prevalence
and disgusting horror or which has been
revealed in the receiving hospital.
A dozen organized bodies of women
are interested in The terrible affair. The
churches have been appealed to aud have
prom ised to respond. The civic fedora
ton and its good Offices have been en-
| sted. Meetings are beng held and
many societies will nut ct 'omorrov at the
b adquarters of the Woman's Cnristian
Temperance union to prepare for mass
meeting Of indignant women and moth
ers on Sunday afternoon.
The offense, news Ut which under ordi-
nary conditions would be gusrdeuly dis
cuss d, mas attacked the homes OF the
city moro directly than any olher in
J
PARTICULARLY in the face of the boast that
because the accused men are ricn they
will escape the penalty OF the crime, even
if the evidence should demand judg-
ment of guilty.
Hundreds OF women, active in forcing
quick and active crusade against such
offenses, will De in the police court to.
morrow morning to show by tlsir pres.
ence that they viii tolerate no jnegling
in matter Of such vital interest &c them
and 10 their homes. Th yre have been in
the CITY few instances of such absolute
dPpravltv as thar with which Lane,
Myers and Ratz are accused. All of these
men are rich and all ara old. Lane is a
pitiable spectacle. decrept, half blind and
deaf, misersbly clad and i'll looking to
tho last degree.
Myers is hardly more rrepossessing.
and Ratz is repulsive in looks and man
ner. The fear that the parents of the
children, needing money and caring lit.
tie how they obtained it, mi hit be Dribed
to mike prosecution ineffective has
caused storm amung the women which
may lead to shaking up the city hal not
seen in years.
The women who are leading the move
ment Tor punish ment and reform are an
palled at the gravity of situation they
did not beheve could exist in San Fran
cisco. They have reason t. suspect tnat
Lane and his associates are not the only
stan p out at once an evil which strikes
at every home and touches every mother
in the city.
EThe police declare that the offense,
which has created so much excitement,
Is the worst which aver came under cir
observation in San Francisco. The
mothers who will assemo ole on Sunday
Will demand that the police exercise
greater vigilance in stamping out an evil
which ALREADY has morally destroyed
trlrty girls who, whiie they are no more
than children in years. are yet hardened
criminals in an experience the verJ
knowledge OF which has shocked and
outraged the community.
The Rev. Dr. Il. K. Ollie is one OF tho
most earnest supporters of the women In
the movement which they have begun.
he Is the pastor of the Central Methodist
Epi.copal church, IN which the mass
meeting will be neld on Sunday. He de-
clarts that he is hardly abls to believe the
stories OF the unexampled depravity re-
led ythe arrest o Lane and his as.
sIclates, but that he is forced 10 do so as
tina proof Of it cannot be denied.