Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1908 — Harmless Characters. [ARTICLE]

Harmless Characters.

Many are the horrible crimes for which mistaken kindness is responsible. The last to be added to the long list is the murder of a seventeen year old girl at Rensselaer, her slayer being a half-witted cripple who was regarded as “harmless.” The murderer in this case was acknowledged to be of impaired mind. And yet the community permitted him to Indulge In a fondness for firearms. Friends and relatives encouraged, his by advancing money for ammunition. He was a "character”’ and because of his infirmities, misguided sympathyexcused his "peculiarities.” Recently he shot at a citizen but this was excused on the ground that he didn’t understand what he was doing and he was allowed his liberty. It is also in evidence that the murderer in this case was addicted to drink. Rensselaer is ‘la dry town” but somehow he managed to get liquor. When men

dealing in liquor sell to such a character —a feeble minded youth—it is little wonder that some think so intensely on the liquor question. A young girl’s life is the price of the liquor dealer’s folly arid the town’s good natured sympathy. It has not been so very many months since a Title girl of Lafayette fell victim to another such character —to one who wasn’ quite bright but was "harmless.” Such crimes—and there are scores of them—force the conclusion that the harmless characters should be treated with firmness, which after all is the kind and safe way.—Lafayette Journal. ■ ’j ”'