Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-24

! A 1other-in-lAvs Tragedy. r,s
While il is the dou,idant spirit Of oil
civilized law, both political and religious,
that husbands bfoperty III his wife, and
a wife's in her husband, shall be sacred
and exclusive while both men and wo.
men are taught from childhood to regard
such mutual supreme proprietorship as
right inculcated .aliks BY nature aud rca.
son, aud alI chris,ia6ised society maintain
kit sa.fnudamenssa niiusitls' 81 the wisest
and only safe domestic polity; the inevita-
bic disasters ensuing from its disregard, or
violation, whether great or petty, must ever
carry with them, for him or her whose
property has been invaded, a certain popu-
lar sympathy in and justification Of almost
any adequate revenge. This, by ages of
custom, has become in effect fixed natu-
raj law; nor have all the denoralizing
tendencies Of meu's-rights" agitations,
and liccntious statutes of divorce, prove
generally powerful enough yet to change
its average dictatiou. Hence is it that
even such near kindred Of the married as
their respected parents, are subjected to an
exacting and jealous criticism in their re-.
lations with the husband and wife; and
hence the common prejudice against such
immediate familiarity in those relations as
may tempt or permit paternal, or maternal
infraction of the supreme proprietorthip
vested by law and second nature in a new
power. A majority of the welded ones,
either by wisdom or convenience, live apart
from their parents after marriage, and thus
lesson the proverbial peril; many recognize
the peril specifically, and systematically
guard against it in variety Of ways from
the start: but there are many whose mar.
ital circumstances will permit neither the
domiciliary nor the principled demarkation,
and it is amongst these that parental inva-
sion works its uuhappiest wrath. That
recent fearful domestic tragedy in New
Haven. whereby two, if not three, lives
were destroyed, seems to have been almost
wholly attributable to one Of the most com.
mon perversities Of mother-in lava
woman who, If all the local detailed &C.
counts are not incorrect, could never real
ize that the claims of daughters husband
upon that daughter for obedience and 6del-
ity were superior to her own. This hus-
band, Otto Baumgarten, skilled maker Of
musical Instruments, came FROM Germany
to this country only three years ago, aud
took position in an organ factory belong
ing to his brother, in New Haven. Board
ing at the Phoenix House, hotel kept
for Germans in that city, he became ac-
quainted with Miss Clara Katsch, the
daughter of his host, whose beauty and
amiability were as attractive to him as
were his pleasant manners and musical ac-
complishments to her. In short, mutual
liking at the FIRST meeting quickly intensi-
fed to mutual affection. The young lady's
parents seemed to have urged no objections
against the obviously warm friendship be-
tween the two; but, upon the proposal Of
matrimonial alliance by Baumgarten, the
old people protested vigorously. Although
Miss Clara had never boasted suitot be.
fore, her mother was sure she could easily
secure husband rather above an organ
builder, and young Otto was curtly inform.
cd that the maiden was intended for his
betters. Thus rebutfed. he withdrew from
the family and took residence in another
house, though openly maintaining still a
written correspondence with his lady-love.
| The latter, made frantic BY opposition,
threatened to Kill herself if It was contin-
ued by her parents, and they, at last, in
| huenccd by this desperate argument, re.
luctantly consented to recall the banished
suitor and allow the marriage to take place.
Accord ngly, in May, 1868, the lovers
were duly united and "went to house keep
\ ing" in . home Of their own on Washing
ton street. The husbands income was
small, and their living was necessarily
plain but, being devoted to each other,
they might have lived happily enough TO-
cether but for The unhappy interference Of
Mrs. Kafsch This lady, says the New
Havea Palladium, like many mothers-in.
law, was unwilling to allow the young peo-
pie to carve out their own fortune. She
interfered at different times between the
husband and wife" and her taunts at his
| poverty are said to have had bad effect
upon his mind aud ultimately upon his
habits" While such was the ominous
situation 10 the new household, the frater-
nal organ factory Of Baumgarten suspend
ed work, and the young husband, about to
become also father. found bis mothes.in-
laws reproaches aggravated teu.f"ld by his
increased poverty. Ustil be could gain
renewed employment, it was his huuilia-'
ting aud absolute necessity, to. ask SOME
temporary help from his father-in law
The mother.in-law' is said to have given
money to her daughter, also. aCircum-
stances like these oblige man to relax
some Of his proper rights against ihe inter-
ference Of those upon whom he has been
compelled to call FIR help; and from this
miserable period his authority over his
wife aud child was secondary. Another
local paper, the Lerer. says that af'er the
birth of the child, "the difficulties between
the husband aud wife we're wiped out; and it
appeared as though Mrs. Baumgarteu. had
she been left alone, would have made the
home Of Quo bright aud happy. But her
mother kept stirring up trouble, and pOiht-