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Show A DIFFERENT MOTIVE ATTRIBUTED. It seems that there was still another witness to the affair which we described last week as an attempt at rape, a gentleman who differs from our version of it. He does not deny but that we stated the circumstances of the assault correctly as far as we went, but he says we attributed a wrong motive to ?? and that they "only wanted a kiss!" We honor the gentleman for his charity, and grant that his estimate of the motive of the assault may possibly be correct, but, we submit that when three roughs, late in the evening in a quiet street, assault a young woman who is deaf and dumb, and therefore without her best defense the power to scream; or make other than a semi-vocal sound, the plea that "they only wanted a kiss," would be a poor defense at the bar of justice, were they ever brought there. Such conduct justifies an extreme construction, and we will risk the opinion that had the unfortunate young woman a male relative possessed of the spirit and purpose to have justice executed, the community at large would applaud him in so doing. The Leader has no desire to make sensational items of trifles, and could it make such a course consistent with its sense of duty, it would refrain entirely from reference to petty acts of rowdyism which so frequently occasion notice. But the circumstance of this assault on this deaf mute is, in our judgement, too flagrant an outrage to be passed over in silence, and if it is so treated there is every reason to believe that such offenses will increase in frequency. We wish to cast no unkind reflections, nor to attach blame to any person, for, possibly, no particular person is to blame, but it seems strange to us that such an offense may be committed, and the culprits, who are well known, go unmolested and unquestioned, and it seems still more strange that witnesses to the affair should desire to have the fact kept secret that they are the ones who gave information of it, lest the culprits should waylay and wreak vengeance on them, yet such appear to be the facts. Elsewhere appears a communication upon this subject, which shows the legal aspects of the affair, and must reflect the sentiments of every right thinking citizen. |
