Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-18
THE CANADA SCANDAL
The Slayer Of Sedaeer Justified by a
Canadian iUry
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From the New York ADVERTISE
We have, in the Verdicts Just given
by Maryland and Quebec iuries, addi-
tiOnal striking proofs of the aversion
in which public estimation holds the
robber of woman's virtue, and of the
almost utter impossibility Of holding
the reNengef. to AN accountability for
murder or manSiaughter. Under
promise of marriage, Nicholas Me
Tomas, of Hartford county, Md. be-
trayed Martha j. Cairnes. One ex--
cuse after another was given by him
for pOstponing the marriage. Finally,
becuming convinced that McComas.
never intended marriage, the woman
eoeliy rode up a few days since to the
Verandah of a hotel where he was sit
ting, surrounded BIZ comrades, and
shot him dead. No effort was made
to arrest her, as she drove away, and
she afterWard gave herself up to the
authorities for trial. CEoWds thrOnged
TO the courthouse, and the prisoner
was ShOwered with epistles expressive
of approval and sympathy. The press
through Maryland warmly defended
her, and visitors of both sexes crowded
to see her.. After being out five min
utes on Saturday evening, the jury
returned a verdict of mot guilty,n
and the prisoner was cheeTed by the
populace and received a midnight
serenade, as likewise did the Jury.
The same feelings displayed by the
warm bloOded Marylanders have been
exhibited by the cooler and less inn
petuous Canadians. In March last,
John II. ChalOner purchased re-
YolVer, and while Ensign Frederick
G. Whitaker, the destroyer of his
sisters happiness, was uncOncernedly
skating on one of the city Kinks, he
sent q fatal bullet crashing through his
brain. The Crown labored hard to
secure the prisoners conviction The
jury retired, and returned soon, stating
that they had not agreed. The Chief
Justice informed them that they would
have to be locked up for the night
Upon this the jury held a consultation
among themselves in the box, their
object, from all appearance being. to
convince one of their number, the
only one 6bjecting-ace0rding to all
accounts-to acquit the prisoner, after
some minutes, the obstinate juror be-
ing convinced, the foreman stated that
they were prepared to render their
verdict The Chief Justice said that
evidently the Verdict was hasty one,
and he consequently refused tOreceive
il. in the interest. OF society. They
would have to retire to their room till
eleven O'Clock the next day, and re
conside@ whatever decision they had
come to, and the Court would adjourn.
The Court accordingly adjourned. The
next morning they again brought in q
verdict of acquittal.
Since the Singleton Mercer affair of
Philadelphia, which twenty years ago
attracted much attention through the
country, we recall no instance of u re-
venger of betrayed honor, man or wO-
man, being convicted of murder or
manslaughter. From that day to this
public sentiment has seemingly be-
come more andnlore fixed and decided /
in holding the seducer as an outlaw
whose crime justifies any retTibution
as ii were, beyond the pale of defense.
In Washington, Philadelphia, Rich
mond, New York, Albany, and now
in Baltimore and Quebec, 1juries virtu- |
ally say to him who has been dishon-
ored that he can take the law into his
own hands with impunity. The hus-
band who deliberately shoots his wife's
paramour in Pennsylvania avenue, or
as coolly puts to death atStanwix Hall
the trifier with his partners honor;
the brother, who ends the life of his |
sisters seducer; the woman who kills |
her rayisher on the steps of a Wash |
ington department, or sends into an.
other world the.taVeTn lounger swho, !
under promise of marriage, has wrong
ed her, are alike justified by avertlict of !
acquittal, and borne in triumph. from |
the halls of justice. If woman feels |
that upon her falls the burden of illicit |
love; if she sees her betrayer socially
recognized as before, while she Is
branded and disgraeed, she has vet, as
public sentiment now exists, the satis-
faction, if satisfaction it be, of know
ing that she can with impunity let fall
the agenging blow upon the author ofl
her. wrongs.
The Albany EreiiRQ Joia5iSa says
that sit was Of course to be expected
that the disappointed 0fice-seekers
would turn against Gen. Grant
Whereupon the ColTieT-.I0lr1lfts says:
- Wen, If the unsuccessful Radical
place-hunters have abandoned him,
who are for 1hin? What are his
chances? What shadow Of hope re
mains 70 him2 Why doesn't he keel ssI !
and die? Es~is