The age-herald., 1902-03-23
Gotham News and Chat

New York. March 21.- Especially Without doubt the Burns Brooks mur- der is the most extraordinary case the annals of crime have as yet presented to the attention of the casual reader. It possesses the air of mystery and it is doubtless the continuation of a romance which would receive the endorsement of a Parisian novelist. It has brought to the surface a phase of life scarcely credible to old fashioned fathers and mothers It has been so revealed that it has sur prised the pulpit and caused some very extraordinary sermons to be preached. And more than all it has shown very clearly a condition of moral rottenness under a surface of responsibility that is appalling. But not less surprising are the daily exhibitions of the magistrates court room. This is afforded by the spec tators. They are women by an over whelming majority Not related or con- nected to the defendant or deceased, they fill the benches and chairs wearing theatre hats and carrying opera glasses. They listen and watch attentively like so many matinee girls.
 Another phase of the case is to be found in the way it is regarded by the public The moral degradation of the defendant and deceased seems to have escaped at tention, and only the question of the murder itself is regarded and discussed The facts are overlooked. It has been shown that Miss Burns was one of sev- eral young women who conducted illicit love affairs for the sake of dissipation or amusement. Miss Burns, came from respectable parentage. Her home was well maintained. She was not required either to give her services at home or in employment She dressed well and her time was her own. She was about twen- ty years of age. very pretty and attrac- tive. She sighed for beaux. She found several and one in particular, Brooks. He belonged to a numerous set of young men who prided themselves on their winning the hearts of young girls. Inno- cent fiirtations were not their desire. They had the mean, low hearts of 'ca- dets." They preyed on the virtue of girls and boasted of those they debauched. In the eyes of the wom en daily congregated in Judge Meyers court these we'll dress ed seducers appeared to be Fascinating fellows"
 l have seen pretty much every class of women. The poor devils of the red light
 
 district forced Into a shameless trad, conducted on a brass check system: the brazen footpad crimsoned with rouge and carrying a signal in flash clothing: the various grades of inmates" of brothels, but for pure "degenerauon." 1 have never seen tho equal of these young women who are wantons because they have nothing else ot do."
 The Burns girl with her young life ex- posed in all its uncleaniness sits in the court room an unmoved listener of charges blasting her reputation. No at- tempt has been made to prove her the victim of this man, Brooks. It is simply. Was she the woman who was with him in the hotel bedroom when he was shot?" The hotel was filled with such wantons No effort was, or will be made, to clean up her character. And yet this state of affairs shocks nobody. It Is all taken as a matter of course If this be true, vir- tue in wom en has lost its value. Is it DOS sible? I Miscreants of some sort have been an-