The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-08-04
Our Washington Correspondence.

Harris for killing A. J. Burroughs, re-
sultlng in her acquttal, has relieved
great local excitement, add suffered the
city 10 fall back into the quiet ways it
usually puts on during the dog days.
Considerable discussion, however, follows
the verdict of the jury, relative to its
propriety. Probably very few fersons
think she was insane. No one justifies
the conduct OF Burroughs. The question
is thus presented: A young man. pro.
fesses, probably has, an attachment for a
young woman they write TO each other,
kiss, and, at least, the girl expects TO
marry the man. They grow older; the
attachment OF the man decreases, perhaps
ceases altogether he marries another
woman year passes, time surely for
the passion OF the disappointed girl 10
cool she procures pistol, leaves Chi.
cago, goes to Baltimore, stops awhile,
comes TO Washington, fingers about the
door Of his room, watches his coming
out of it, places herself in his way, waits
till he has passed her, fires at him, and
kills him is taken 10 prison her trial
comes on: size enters the court room, as
the papers repeat daily, leaning on the
arm Of her counsel, who justities the kill
ing to the jury, on the ground OF insanity;
the judge, in a three. minute charge TO
the jury, tells them he hopes they have
made up their minds, and will soon bring
iu their verdict. the jury frd her not
guilty without leaving the box; the ac-
cused faints, but is caught in the arms OF
her counsel, who kisses her, as a restora.
tive doubtless, no water being at hand,
and the case ends, the law is satisfied, and
the. insane is restored 10 her right mind.
Stripped OF all disguises, Miss Harris was
justified by the jury in the killing Of Bur-
roughs, because he had inspired her
with the idea that he loved her, and
would eventually marry her, snd failed,
and, by marrying another, put it out OF his
power 70 fulfill The expectations he had
raised. t.
1t is this state Of facts that has
led to the discussions I have before
spoken OF. The questions arising are
various all affecting the situation in which
young men are placed by this verdict,
before the unmarried feminine world -
such as, how long after an engagement
has been broken off can a lady shoot the
man Is it limited to one year. or can it
be done any number OF years thereafter :?
Does failure 20 fulfill an engagement Of
marriage, in all cases, justify the killing
OF the man by the woman who has been
disappointed ? Does the necessity for
the killing increase in proportion as the
woman is satisfied that the man is un.
worthy OF her love Is the justification
as perfect where the woman, on more in
tinae acquaintance after the engage.
ment, proves unsuited to the man ? Is
an engagement like the laws OF the Medes
and Persians, never TO be broken by the
man, though it may oe, at all times, q! the
option Of the woman At what age
does the liability to moral insanity on the
part Of the woman cease, so that an en-.
gagement with possible contingency OF
its being broken, would be safe? Il a man
should be engaged to two women at once,
and break both engagements, and should
be shot in consequence of The "moral
insanity" Of woman No. l, should woman
No. 9, in her "moral insanity" shoot
the brother OF the deceased ? Or, in such
a case, should the women draw cuR for
the first shot? Are widows liable to at
tacks Of "moral insanity" equally with
maids? Can widowers be shot for break
ing an engagement, or will their men.
tai sufferings, in finding impossible to OBJ
obtain the consent Of another woman latter
having proved faithless TO The first, be
regarded as worse than death II 9
woman is engaged to several men at the
same time, may she shoot them by turns
as their engagements are broken off p
Or, il they, 10 avoid such a catastrophe,
! all insist upon marrying the woman, ,wha
is the woman to do? II man should bt
engaged to several women at the same
time, is there any safety Tor him, unless
he emigrates to Utah, and takes them al
along? How these questions can be an
swered I do not pretend to venture al
opinion. give them to you, that yor
may SEQ the character OF the inquiry tina
the verdict Of acquittal in the case oi Miss
Harris, has set in motion. II would seem
however, that the lesson taught by it is
that,a the law fails 10 visit with adequate
penalties the destroyers of the happiness
of woman, the sense of justice of tht
people, speaking through jury, justife'
a punishment not sanctioned by the law
We are enjoying the delights of dog
days and the singing Of the locusts--twt
things for which all reasonable persons
should be thankful. M.
SAID Professor Agassiz recently: "After
staying fifteen years in this country. have