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Show ItOWDlKS' RIGHTS. Tuesday last a burly ruffian named Halliaey fired upon Menken, a young German barkeeper, for refusing to furnish fur-nish him drink free. Very properly the young man shot his assailant dead in his tracks. On the coroner's inquest yesterday it so unmistakably appeared a case of self-defense that nothing remained re-mained but to discharge the prisoner, ' and this verdict was, we hear, received with applause by all present. In these cheers the ruffians of the city may rend an impressive warning. Their lives, when attempting their customary violence, are worthless in the eyes of tho community, and no jury can be found to hold those who kill them to account. It was once very good law that a notorious stabber and brawler was a caput lupiimm, to bo put out of tho way by any one having ! that inclination, and so much of this; code remains as will justify a very ex- ' tensive destruction of the lawless scoundrels scoun-drels who infest New York. Menken's case was beyond doubt a clear case of self-defense, but even if the proof had not been so indubitable, the verdict would have been the same. Put a "rough" on the one side and a decent man on the other, and the average jury will not go into any extreme refine-1 nienU before adjudging tho latter blameless for repelling the violence of the former. The very existence of the "rough" is a menace, his presence a direct warning to be on their guard, and bis first motion toward ill usage equal to the most imminent danger at, tho hands of any ordinary man. The ; presumption is against him, and we I mistake the popular temper if it be not rather to applaud than to criticise any peaceable person who may shoot him down. He who chooses a oareor of violence takes his life in his own hand, Neio York World, April 4. |