Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-08
An OFFICIAL OUTRAGE.

AN OFFICIAL OUTRAGE
Great Indignation is tet and eE'
messed ~ people who read in the Des'
sret News. on Monday evening the le'
tsr signed c. r. Thorpe concerning ne
ipdIqpltes experienced by three yolng
gIrls a week ago. According to the ae'
count therein given they we're eating
their supper In a restaurant in th's
ctv. when two policemen entered took
them in custody and escorted them 70
the police station, where they were SUD
iected to a personal examination 1'
the city physician.
The letter asserted that they protest.
ed in tears, and asked for the presence
OF their mothers, which was denied ana
also tina, detective wanted to be
present during the examination but was
refused BY he physician. Both these
statements are positively denied by the
officers.
Its admitted. however by the chief
OF police that the girls were brought 10
in and examined. That It was believed
they were loose characters and were
diseased. That they were subjected 10
this examination IN the public interest
That the youngest glrl-about twelve
years Of age, showed evidences Of hay'
ing been tempered with" but that
neither OF them was diseased, and the
older girls had not been violated.
The chief and others connected WIN
this affair seem to treat 1t lightly 10
one way, and yehemeutly IN another
They appear to think they were iustl'
hed By their good motives and by the
statement that this had been done I'M
der previous police administrations
And they take the publication Of the
matter as a personal attack upon them
By the News They further clain
that the writer Of the letter is not o
respectable or trustworthy person
We have taken up this unsayory mat
ter. also ior the public interest" We
have nothing personal against the chief
or any Of his subordlnates on the con.
,rary we have defended and bettiendad
them in many ways, But we see O dan.
ger to the community IN this arrest
without charge against these young
girls, and their exposure to such an in.
dignity os was perpetrated upon them.
II such proceedings are permitted IN
their case. what Is to hinder similar as.
saults upon anybodys daughter or Sis.
ter, who through thoughtess or un'
seemly conduct may be suspected OF
unchastity7
These girls. we are told, have no
father or brother to defend them u
they had would the officers responsible
for this extraordinary conduct have
dared TO attempt &c? Does not the very
thought Of the possibility OF such 8n
assault upon relative make every
mans blood fairly boil and arouse Die
utmost resentment? And why should
Il be permitted in the case OF three
young glr'y who were without a male
defender2
II is alleged by way Of excuse that
they were known to the police as IRE,
quenung places that threw them open
TO suspicion. and the police waited to
make sure Of their fallen character so
that they might be sent n necessary,
20 the Reforma,ory But supposine
they were known without O doubt 10 be
bad and vicious 90 the lowest sense.
Where do the police end their authority
10 take such a course. as Is now claimed
TO have been followed In other instances
as well as this?
We want TO see the ordinance or stat.
Ute that confers such power IfIteK.
lists Il ought 70 be repealed But we
Know Of nothing Ike It in The city or.
enhances or the State laws Therefore
We contend the police had no more right
70 seize those girls and subject them
10 THIS terrible iniIgnIty than private
Citizens have il Is an invasion OF the
Hshis and the liberties OF individuals
mat Is subvTsIye OF the freedom ~
me citizen and It ought not IN no
passed by as trivial thing. rsm
outrage and a shame. hit has ta.r
customary AN the more should ~ he
condemned and stopped without de-.
As 10 Inc personal character Of .rr
informant who It appears wrote 10
l'n'F c'y papers over bis aeratrr.
we care Hide or nothing. Thu, .,,.
!. essential figure IN this inysrIpetr,r
y is noi Involved 10 the question Mn.
'o'n' at issue Is the power of M. nm.
' ',' 10 enter q public or private e5tIr.
'.1y' 'e'As upon girls quietly eating
uea'' take them to police bsalmg,.
.e's and subject them TO an .r.
that Is supposed to- hon .,.',
.1 J. without an order o., ear,, .'-' VI
n, y mere Is any authority b r.g ,..
~, n,. d. The 'Ne's' WIFI as readily r9h.
''n IT, ana Eonsrte those ob.r, a,
I. ,'t -. believes have acted unravfsrry AZ
I, l y, gwen place TO tbs psrt.rr,,rs
I. ~, case as furnished by letter n
~, question Of personal liberty ana
.''D-'ai assumption u aaa.,s -.
,a-. '',,uni'E Il IS OF popular im.
Sy.D Because OF that me- NJ,
$3.50, .s views j as above an personal
e,'''leisIions and at the rist -, al,.'
. h ' ~ s.,I to few demands .nyestra.
IL Il" u" 0'AaIf Of the rights of the pub,