Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-03-08

| Vulnerho'o Poius h Wy cus'sess''
Yet he never allowed himself 10 be dis
courased.-iailing in ons e,podians. he had
easy resource to another and he Vas not
only fertile. but--in justice To the truth I
mus: add--unscrupulous. With Affected
nonchalapce peculiar TO hIuself. ho imms-
diately inquired:
"what n the object Of this prosecution ="
81 can tell you better when l have eI.
amined tho papeu." I replied. growing
more confident. Morgan had been already
arrested wnen Vas retained. and I had
no, yet been informed Of the ground Of CON.
plaint.
The justice. . small, sinswy. sun.burnt
man. half buried in the superabundanee Of
q hugo calico Gus hion. reached across h's
table indolen,ly. and taxing few folded
papers from pigeon hol. in bis de'r. tossed
them toward mo with an air of Official i'm.
portapcc.
Tho Object" replied, after having
carefully eIamined the affidavit and warrant.
is TO .ecare the compla'nan, against the
future abuse Of her husband. BY placing him
under bonds 10 keep the peace.
Again Mr. Harris smiled. did not ike
| his smile IL VAS malicious.
Presently Sir. Natalie eauu and conduct
ed IN. to the complainant. ] have already
described her condition I will only add.
tha, her -piri, had bcen completely crush
Od. and her mind was fast approaching
state Of ,mbcciliiy. Still. IL was evident.
that if che could b. released Iron the con-
troll Of her brutal husband. which was the
ehiei desire Of her heart. she might live for
many years. and die in the full snjoymen,
OF her mental faculties.
My dear young friend" she said, look
ing q, me earnestly through her 'rieklins
tear. II AN very miserable; Tor IL I fail,
God only knows what will be the measure
Of my punishment. I am helple.. and dee.
titute and I have no hope but in the jus.
,ice Of my cause. and the real Of my bene.
factor"
The last words-so expressive Of her ds.
depc cndsnce-.timulated tho sympathy al.
ready felt for the poor injured old woman.
and entered upon the trial with an energy
and determination that awakened surprise
in many present, aud in Nr. Harris. aston.
i.htpent.
Many witnesses were examined for the
prosecution and it vas proved that the
, defendant vas gross and brutal man. and
cruel husband that he had frequently
abused his vile without = cause. that no
had deprived her OF FOOD for days together {;
that be had turned her out OF doors ~ mid
winter. and kep, her in the storm TIL near.
lv peri'hed that he had threatened her
life With poi.pn, and obliged her 10 eat food
of his own preparation that he had turn
ed her private apartments into prison I:
aud within q few days. that he had b'aien
her until her Ge.b MAS bruised and lacerted.
i Mr.. Harris defined u cro.s-cIamination
was surprised to find that he made no ef.
fort u explain or palliats the facts c'tAb-
li,hed. ! was yet more SURPRISED that hs
permitted me to interrosatc. and the wit.
nesses to testify, without interruption.
Nor could I provoke . word from him, 4,
though went purpo-ely beyond the case.
snI proved by Mr.. Natalie and Others. ,ha.
the defendant Was q dangerous citizen. .us-
pccted Of fraud and Of perjury to Avcid. TAI.
alton.
! But when I bad closed my eSamin alton.
! Mr.. Il,rris moved . dismissal Of the cOp-
plant. on the ground that the evidence ai.
duced Was insufficient 10 sustain the charge
under the common law; and ~ support of
his motion, he read Humorous authorities.
~ show that . man Was justified IN chasti.
sing hi. wife with the same moderation that
he would child or apprentice; and ar.
gued that there was no evidence 10 convict
the defendant of having transcsnded this
Limit in any particular. AS 70 the other
facts" he concluded, 4" | need say no more
than that they are foreign TO the issue and
luss,d into the cause without shadow Of
justice aud. Of course will not receive your
consideration"
The eff,c, OF this reasoning Was clearly
for-shadowrd in the countenauce Of the
magistrate, who, aat,ercd by tho presence
Of . lawyer so distinguished. was almo.,
impatient to crafty their mutual selfish.
nes. at the expense Of helpless humanity.
In reply, I first examined the ev'denc, in
each Of the cases cited BY Mr.. llarris. and
compared the facts with those under eonsid.
Grafton uext described the nature Of the
marriage contract, the duties OF the hue
band, and the rights Of the wife. assuming
the broad ground Of moral and social equal.
ity after which I animAdverted upon che
criminal treatment Of tho defendant, IN such
unme measured terms as made him sesm to all
present human monster Had ! paused
here I should have succeeded but IN the
excitement Of the moment ] attacked the
cowuon Law. and characterized that por.
,ion which gives tho husband - IN uch pow.
er over the liberty and person Of his wife
a. relic Of leu dal barbarian. unworthy Of
an enlightened ago. and degrading TO free
people.
Now. IL happened thu, the magistrate.
some twenty years before. had been sub.
jet Of Great Britain, and still entertained
. profound respect for this balwsrk Of our