AN ABOMINABLE TRAFFIC.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 29, 5 February 1881, Page 4

AN ABOMINABLE TRAFFIC.

After a trial in Brussels, which occupied two days, Bayß the Home News, twelve personß of both sexes were condemned to various terms of imprisonment upon charges arising out of enticing English girls to come abroad for the worst of all purposes. The evidence adduced for the prosecution disclosed the fact that an abominable traffic had been long carried on between England and Brussels by the prisoners, who were in the habit of tempting girls, by offdrs of places abroad and otherwise, into accompanying them or their agents on board ship at London, whence they made the passage to Oatend. The captain of one of the steamers on a certain occasion notiood that amongst his passengers there were English girls in a state of intoxication, but who, on recovering, presented the appearance of being respectable young women. Ab they were accompanied by foreigners of a repulsive aspect, the captain had the party followed on landing, and it was discovered that the victims were taken to a house of bad repute. That occurred in September, 1878, and since thon the affair had been followed up with the result of the institution of the proceedings which have just ended. Mr. tinaggo, of the English Bar, especially instructed on the part of the English Government, appeared to watchj t the case on their behalf. The facts having been proved, the prisoners were sentenced, the following being the heaviest terms of imprisonment : — Eegier, six years ; Roger, two years ; Landre, eighteen and a half months; Andronett, eighteen months; Meyer, sixteen months; Parent, thirteen months ; and Geaux, one year. The trial occasioned a great deal of sensation, and the court was crowded to excess. ____________