Evening star., 1948-12-20
That Rape Case Verdict
To the Editor Of The Star:

The acquittal of Elvid H. Perrell of the
charge Of rape Is one of the most fragrant
miscarriages Of justice to occur In the District
Of Columbia courts in recent years. With
this case as q precedent, any sex-mad white
man may attack a woman, then bring his
wife. children and neighbors into the court
room to arouse sympathy and thus be ac-
quilted. This leaves the full onus to be borne
by the innocent party who was attacked and
her family.
After following, the newspaper accounts Of
this case, I cannot see any evidence proving
that Mrs. johnson invited or acceded willingly
to the desires of the arracker. There Is much
to indicate that she may have been in
mortal dread of her assailant and may have
feared that full resistance on her part would
lead to her being killed, for Perrell did act
like maniac.
There is, however, one other aspect of this
case that invites careful consideration, and
that Is whether rape merits the death penalty
"a view which has led to more than one
lynch party. I do not believe 1t does, and
am sure that in time, enlightened jurispru-
dence will treat this matter in more reason
able and humane fashion by putting the
rapist under competent psychiatric and FOR
medical care and providing method whereby
in some measure to the person who has been
wronged.
A death penalty in case of this sort would
only have worked greatest hardship on the
unoffending wife and children of the culprit.
FLORENCE JACKSON.
Where Is the justice in our courts7 The
Elvid Perrell case is disgrace not only to the
Nations Capital but to the Nation itself. Any
one with half q brain knows that men who
rape are very often killers think the woman
used good sense to consent, as they called dt,
rather than be killed, but guess those jurors
never gave shat . thought
M P. JENKINS.
TO the Editor Of The Star:
Suggested editorial Chased on current local
events as reported in the dailies) under the
head "It's Legal Now:
Attention all sexual psychopaths, perverts
and rapists OF all States, especially North
Carolina! Come to Washington, D. G. Rape
Is legal here now
IF you can't control your base impulses,
Washington is your Valhalla Just pick out
any woman that strikes your fancy. Gun her
around-beat her up. Rape her, it's all right.
And you don't have to 60 skulking around
dark corners and deserted streets-go right
to her home. Drag her away.
"Its all right No jury of upright, decent
citizens will convict you Of anything.
"Sate, yourself. Then, If you live out OF
the District, return to the arms of your loved
ones-to your loyal neighbors-and to your
clerical friends who will swear, If not to the
Deity, at least to the secular authorities that
yo,, rather admirable sort of character
and that they can condone your rapist tend
encies and still preach the Holy Law with
clear conscience.
Sure, some misunderstanding individuals
might call rape q dastardly thing to do. So
what If they do call you bastard? You're
within the law.
"One caution, however, dear rapists. Don't
get caught by any Of the aforementioned
misunderstanding individuals. They might get
violent. And-since rape now is legal here
anything they might do to you, including such
things as extreme physical violence. are prob
ably legal, too" B. J. W.