The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-12
FRANKFORT, KY, Feb g. 1913.
Affairs in the Legislature Proceed

Affairs in the Legislature Interesting Proceed
ings.
Yesterday the Legislature had under conside-
ration, and disposed of, bill of a general cha
racter, which is the second or third bill of that
character which has been acted upon in the
house. 1t was bill giving an action of tres
pass to the widow and infant children of persons
killed; it called forth much discussion. The
friends of the bill argued, that if an action of
trespass would lay by one man against another
for committing an assault upon him, vi ct armis,
that there was no good reason why the remedy
should not survive to the wife and infant chill
dren, when the assault caused the death of the
assaulted party. They further insisted that it
would have tendency to prevent the commits
sion of the crimes of murder and manslaughter,
inasmuch as the pecuniary penalty would more
certainly follow the crime, because the defend
ant would then be stripped of the benefit of those
mon law had extended to criminals 1t was
contended by the opponents of the bill, that it
was placing price upon human life, and bring
ing a widow, clothed in her mourning weeds,
into court of Justice to demand gold as the
price of her husbands blood and also, that it
was substituting pecunlary for criminal pun
ishment. The bill was laid on the table indefi-
nitely, by test vote of 40 to 81. The only bill
of general character that has been before acted
upon by the house, was bill giving to the State
the right of six peremptorry challenges In crimi-
nal cases. This bill had but little opposition,
owing to the fact that it was utterly impossible
to convict man of murder, no matter how clear
sOever the proof may have been, because the
criminal could challenge peremptoriy the whole
OF the panel; and by having his friends stand by
to be summoned as talesmen, he would thus Sc
cure one or two on the jury who would never
consent to verdict of guilty. BY the passage
of this law, the State is enabled to reject those
Jurors by peremptory challenge, and secure by
that means an impartial jury. Criminal juris-
prudence has been most laxly administered in
Kentucky for the past few years, and there can
be but little doubt of the sautary effect of this
law.
Aside from these two bills there has been
none of a general character passed and the
standing title of all bills is, bill for the bene
fit Of" &C.; but some old bachelor occasionally
changes it to ga bill to divorce" &C., in order
to break the dull monotony, and to give the bust
ness little Of the pepper of human existence.
BY resolution of the house, all petitions for
divorce were referred to the Committee on Re-
with instructions to report on all cases according
to their merit. The committee have already
reported twenty-five cases which have been act
ed upon, and they now have fifty more ready to
report. In one case, the husband petitioned for
divorce from his former wife,. who had been
previously divorced from him, In order that the
twain might again be made one flesh, and try
second voyage on matrimonlars breaking sea:
The Legislature, as matter OF course, granted
the prayer of the petitioner, and he was again
subjected to the payment of another mar
rage tee, as penalty for the violation of
the first contract. In another case, the lady Pc
ttioning for divorce was courted in one week,
married the second, quarrelled the third, parted
the fourth, applied for divorce the fifth, will
doubtless get 1t the sixth, and by the seventh
will be ready to receive the devoirs of another
gallant. Formerly, the Legislature were in the
habit of dong up this kind OF business by "om-
nibus billie" and in one bill of that character,
they divorced an old man and his wife, who had
lived happily and peaceaby together for more thsn
fifty years, and who were thus unceremoniously
divorced (not separately without their know
ledge, advice, or consent; being willing to fulfil
their original desiga-to live together till death
should part them. They too, were subjected to
a second "priest fee," for uniting two doubly
willing hearts, and were again united, amid the
Joys and exultatons of the numerous "fruits'' of
their previous union In case now pending
before the house, the husband and wife have
divided their 'ioint stock in trade, each having
seven-all profits-and have agreed to dissolve
partnership, and jointly petltoned the Legisla-
ture to confirm their agreement and grant a di.
vorce; but some of the old bachelors of the
house, not being lawyers, do not understand
the law in relation TO ''sleeping partners" and
they are in favor of holding them jointly; but a
venerable member, from Mason county, insisted
that every "good looking man in the house
would vote divorce"
The weather still continues very fine. For the
past three weeks we have not had rainy day,
but continual sunshine and fair weather.
CICERO.