Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-06-10
Acou1rrAL OF MAY Avn WHrrIrR


Our readers, before this, have doubtless been
informed that the Jury in case of Miss Wheel
er, on her second trial, have returned YER
diet of not guilty Although in this case the
usual plea of insanity was got up on the de-
fence, yet there are probably not ten indivi-
duals IN this State, who do not believe that
the act was one of deliberate but determined
premeditation. 1t.was committed in broad
day light, with GOODNESS and with remarkable
self possession. The trial and aequittal of
Miss Wheeler prove quite conclusively, that
there may be violations of law, where public
sentiment disregards its penalties and rises
superior to its enforcement, We copy below
an article from the Grant County Herald, not
because we subscribe to its doctrines, but be-
cause from the expressions we have heard
from different quarters, we believe it to be
practically, the sentiment of the mass of the
people.
From the Gr,nt County Herald.
If we are not Very much mistaken in the
signs of the times, criminal offences of this
description, against the honor and respecta-
bility of virtuous families, will soon come to
be understood and resented in the wav hea-
ven designed they should. There is a Ru5i-
con that man ought never to pass and if he
does, no lawyer on earth or in hell should
condescend to be mean enough to defend him
no court nor jury SO free from prejudice,
as to attach guilt or penalty for the act of
avenging the seducer's wrongs.
The deliberate killing of a seducer by the
girl, her parent or hear relative, we look on
as clear case of right, or justifoble homicide,
because there is no other certain means of re-
dress; and we don't see how any due respect
can be entertained for the injured family, till
the seducer is thus brought to his just re-
ward. Remorse should not haunt the breast
nor should pardon be asked of any one for
the righteous act-saye from the devil for
sending him such a wretch little too soon.
1t is true that our laws should be obeyed.
and we don't propose to have any change in
them to suit such cases, but then there are
anomalies in law, as well as in everything else.
Let the act of killing seducer be known then
as an misunderstanding no rule to govern it
but that of immutable right in defense of hon
or, make it a homicide, justified in honor and
sanctifed in the sight Of men. Under such
treatment more than half the circulating den
fists, quack doctors, mormon preachers and
bar-room loafers that hang around onr villa
ges and cities, would speedily flee the country
We have no squeamish notions and easy lib
eral feelings towards thathigh pretendingclas
of weasel-taced loafers, such as Lace was, and
who constantly prowl around our alleys in
quest of victims. Their dear sympathizers.
lamentably numerous everywhere, disclaim
that there is any virtue in woman-that her
motives are all assumed Let the promul-
gers of such damning recklcssness receive oc.
casional lessons at the hand of the fair but
victimized sex,-let the seducer be made an
example Of, according to modern progressive
law and right; and then, if virtue is not bet
ter protected, let the law-making powers re-
store the code of chivalry, which our ances-
tors had eight hundred years ago. King
Georges statutes and Massachusetts criminal
proceedings may do well enough for old fash
toned transgressors, but for modern college
bred rogues and professional libertines, we
want progressive law-such as common sense
demands.