Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-10
CHARGES MINUS PROOF.

The failure OF the prosecution against
a local physician whose conviction for
malpractice was confidently anticipated,
both by the attorneys against him and
ny the general public, affords an Illus
tration Of the Wide difference between
opinion and proof. In this case what
appeared TO be evidence OF convincing
character. turned out on legal test
TO be far short OF That kind Of evidence
that ls necessary To convict. The repu-
iation Of the defendant While 1t had its
effect upon the popular mind, cut no
figure in the case before the court It
might have had some weight II there
had been SUFFICIENT corroborating testl-
mony to warrant IT, submission 90 a
jury, But when the issue came, the evil
dence expected failed Of appearance
and in spite Of the general opinion and
the suspicious circumstances made pub
lie, there was nothing left to do but
ncquit the accused, and the Jury were
therefore Instructed by the judge to ind
n verdict Of not guilty
The offense charged against the de-
PENDANT was one Of the atrocous crimes
of the period. II Is clear that abortion
IS no uncommon evil. That there are
professional abortlonists In this country.
who ply their nefarlous business un-
whipped of Justice needs no assertion
or argument of ours Their offense Is
nothing less than murder. II duplicates
at least two persons always. Often
shere arc others who are acc0mpllces
;n the horror The fact that the de-
struction OF life involved Is prenatal
does not lessen the offense In the sight
"f heaven or Of just people on earth. It
Is both cowardly and cruel. II carries
With It the very essence Of assasslna.
hon.
Although II is often resorted to for the
purpose of preventing exposure OF un-
lawful relations and indulgence in lust,
It Is sorrowful to add that married peo-
pie IN many instances ars guilty Of the
ubomination, and that It's influence IL
spreading through the land and crush
ing out the finest feelings Of the paren-
tai heart. The holy instincts of mother
hood are stined thereby. aud II Is one OF
the most nsldious ana deadly menaces
10 the American home. about which we
hear so much from some people who
ought to turn the light upon their own
doings, before they accuse others.
A kindred evil, which may not be
considered closely allied In euormity to
the practice we here condemn. but re-
ally is OF near kindred, Is the pre-
yention OF increase adopted In many
family circles and by ladies' who move
IN what are called the highest ranks
OF select society. The open boast that
IS made by men aud women who pose
as "the best people, members Of re-
ligious societies and advocates OF cul-
ture and refinement. about the limIta-
tlon OF the number Of their offspring
proolaims aloud the prevalence Of a
practice which should cause the blush
OF shame 90 mantle the cheeks of pure
aud lovely womanhood. The very fact
that disgust Is expressed when natu-
raj woman who Is a happy wife prldes
herself ON having a large number of
children. Is additional testimony OF the
decadence OF true womanhood and the
triumph Of the spirit OF Moloch.
But the point We endeavored TO make
at the beginning OF this article is the
unwisdom OF preferring charges that
cannot be subsAntiaed. individuals
are often condemned by the public be-
cause of rumors and actual circum-
stances that give color to them, and
the assumption OF guilt passes for proof
and secures a popular verdict. But
this Is very unjust. why don't you
handle SO and so?' Is common query
under circumstances like those we have
mentioned. why don't you make "a
charge yoursef2'' is proper question
by way OF reply. But this suggests the
necessity OF evidence, and those persons
who are so anxious that parties against
whom Dame Rumor has raised her
voice shall be condemned. do not stop
10 think that proof Is necessary before
judgment can be rendered.
People should be slow to repeat ac-
cusations against Others and should
refrain from utterlng charges that
cannot be substantiatcd by proof This
viii apply TO all classes Of humanity,
and II received according to the spirit
and meaning thereof, would place a
barrier IN the path Of SANDER and close
the lips OF many a scandaImouger. II
Is lamentable that guilty persons fire.
quently escape, but It is stil more sor-
rowful that the innocent often suffer
from false accusation and false witness.