The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-10-10
A "P00r Fellow" Shoots His Brother
sin Fun


1'he YpsliSnti Commercial states that
another murder In fun has occurred in
this State. This time a young man shot
out hunting. The younger brother at
ed to explode, bur the rife failed to be
discharged. On reaching home he aim
ed at his brother IN sport, and pulled the
trigger. This time the rifle was dis
charged, and the elder brother crowned
the joke by facetiously tumblng over,
dead. 1t was rare sport! The beauty OF
this kind OF a Joke Is Its perfect safety to
the joker The law does not punish
him. He can kill his man, or his woman
and enjoy ali the exhilarating excitement
of murder-he can experience all the
novel sensations of the highest crime
save treason known to the law-and al
together escape justice Nay, more, he
is locked upon by the community not as
a criminal, but as ali unfortunate. If he
has the art to tear his hair trifle, and
TO shed tears-aDd the excitement, even
II he Is not particularly sorry, will tend
to produce tearo-he can enjoy the added
pleasure OF being the lion and pet Of the
naighborhood for time--the poor fell
low of all the men, and the heart
broken darling of all the women If a
man or woman is romantic and not con
scientious, imaginative and yet cruel. a
lover excitement and not afra OF blood
the maddest, most thrilling sensation
that can be conceived of is at his or her
disposal Ali that is required is TO MUIR
der some friend in joke. The bull
fights eff the Spaiards, the gladatorial
conbats of Rome, the fur OF roasting a
missionary enjoyed by the Fejees, is not
to be compared with it, Our civilization
being superior to theirs, of course our
amusenlents are more refined and soul
thrilling
This footing with fire arms at the ex-
pense Of human lives can be STOPPED, if
our lawmakers have the common sense
and the humanity to stop it. The law
should provide:
l. That pointing the muzzle Of gun,
pistol or other fire arm, knowingly at or
toward any person, without malice, Is
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine or I'M
prisonment IN the Count Jail.
,. That swapping the lock Of any gun,
pistol, or other tirearnl, the muzzle of
which Is kno 1lngly pointed at OF toward
any person, without malice, whether the
weapon by discharge thereby or not, is a
misdemeanor. punishable by inlprison-
ment III the County jail and fine
3. That dlscharglng any gun, pistol, or
other frearm, the muzzle of which is
knowingly pointed at OF toward any per-
son without malice, shall constitute felony
aud be punished by imprisonment in the
State Prison not less than three nor more
than five months.
4 That wounding or manning any
person by the discharge of a gun, pistol
or other firearm. the muzzle of which Is
knowingly pointed at or toward any per
son, without malice, shall constitute fell
ony, and be punished by imprisonment Ia
the State, Prison not less than SIX months
nor more than i've years.
>. That killing any person by the dis
charge OF gun, pistol or other firearm,
knowingly pointed at or toward any per-
son, without malice, shall constitute a
falony and be punished by imprisonment
In the State Prison not less than five nor
more than fifteen years.
Such a law, with equally stringent pro-
visions emitting injured PARTIES to exom-
plary damages at any time within ten
years, would, We firmly believe. put an
entire stop TO all practical jokes Of the
kind. The law would make the very at
tempt TO be funny with a gun or pistol a
mlSdemeanor, and a successful Joke a
crime. An amusement thus branded by
the state and by public opinion would
nos he INDUCED in except by persons ac-
tuaIly intending 20 violate the law, and
all such would indulge in such Jest at
their peril