Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-04-18
THE DYNAM1os OF CRIME.


From the Lynehburg Republican. ApriII9.l
We have surrendered much of our space
for several days to the publication of the
evidence adduced At tue trial witch has been
in progress for week or more of Mrs Laura
ID. Fair for the killing Of Dir. A. p. Critten>
den, lawyer of San Francisco. We do not
make this publication from any desire to
parade q sensation, but because Que of the
parties concerned in this dreadful TRAGEDY.
Mrs. Fair, is 80 well known through her late
husband, Capt. VIM. ID Fair, at one time a
prominent lawyer OF this city, that her crime
aud its subsequent attendant circumstances
possess an interest hereabouts that is almost
local in character as il is painful in intensity
Regarded upon purely abstract grounds, the
crime of Mrs. Far in Staying her Paramour is
is entirely objectionable, but regarded from a
standpoint, less abstract perhaps, but moro
practicable. il has alternating circumstances,
and not n few Of them. Mr.. CriItenden, 4
lawyer eminent in his profession aud reputa-
Bile IN his social relations, wrought the ruin of
this woman, betrayed the most sacred trust
which woman can repOse in man, aud not only
betrayed It WautOnly, but betrayed il knowing
that the victim Of his gratified lust would be
spurned by the world, as she had been thrown
aside by him when he had grown tired Of her,
while he, the betrayer, shielded by his social
position shielded by the disgraceful fact that
society never visits upon man the same pun
ishment for his shortcomings that it visits
upon \ .WOmau,-sheded thus, this man
would walk the world unchaIenged, with no
scOrn TO follow his iO0tsteIS. u" hand to avenge
his victim. To this iniquitOus discrimination
ut society a discrimination which G0rgives
the sinner and pOurs its wrath upon the one
sinned against. this man trusted when he flung
D. l. 4
fessed undyinG love. to ell her place perhaps,
with another, who. in her turn, should share
the fate of her predecessor Ii is with this
phase of the tragedy that We wish to deal,
because, unfortunately ii one not without an
abundance OF parallels. Mrs. Fair killed one
MIR. CTittendeu, but there still remain many
Mr.. CriItendens in the world.
IL must be remembered that this man was
not yOung man; thar he was, moreover, a
married man that around him were his sons
aud daughters, all grown TO the estate of mau-
hood and thar, notwithstanding all this. he
ruIhlessly SC; aside his own wife set aside his
own children. and the tender ties of his own
home, to make love to aud be;ray the faith of
poor woman, one whom the hungry greed of
his lust had singled GU, as a victim for his
destruction. Ii is here that the darkest fea-
ture of his crime lies. One may regard with
To forgive the indiscrc;ions of younger people,
unbriiled a. they are apt to be hy sober judg
memr. but one can find no circumstance Uf cx
cuse when the betraycr of cuutding woman
is hlm,cli legally welded to another, the la
Their at tamily, representative of society
Youth may err "G The side of passion. bur men
oI years. when they err. seldom err but on
the side Of cold, caIlOus d"rrAvi'y.
There is too much of this sort of thing in
society. aS it is at present constituted. Men,
aud women too. assume the grave response
bIlItIes OF ma'rimory as lightly as If it were
oi 10 more import than the trying on "f a
new garment, the purchase of "a new horse. or
iEe anncXitY ut Some new piece 1T furniture
10 household establishment Aud in too
many cases, unfortunately. tho taking Of a
wife is TO man "A matter Of about as much
if not less importance than the addition Of
a coat to his wardrobe. u horse to his stable
or n lounge to his paror. 1t is not transpa-
reHtiy So. Of course, but often il is no less
practically the Case. This is all wrong. but
often II Is folly to say there Is no redress for
1t. 1t society would discriminate impartnly,
it parents would be more hecdful OF the true
interests of their children. If curbs ond re.
straints were more boun;iiuly applied, if '.se
curing n settlement" for girls were less of a
dcsideratuM, it is possible that there would be
less dscOTd in the world, less uuhappiuess.
aud certainly fewer crimes to bIackcn the
chronicles VI social history. Proper educa.
ton, or, rather, the lack Of it, is st the root
Of all social misfortune. If there were less
cant and more practical examples, the gener-
alton that is growing up would be better. far
better, than the generation which IS growing
down. If equal punishment were melted out
to offending man as TO offending woman, the
social ulcer would soon disappear. or yield, a.
last, TO n more wholesome condition.
We are no npoiosis,s for violence, whether
committed by mnu or woman, but we
cannot entirely condemn the woman who
shoots down the man wh" be;rays her. and we
can condemn this one less, because the victim
OF her violence is n man OF high social repure,
blessed with abundance Of the worlds choicest
gifts, but who, nevertheless set all aside to yield
to degrading because ungoverned passion
There may be, and no doubt there are, those
who condemn the poor woman now on trial in
California for her lie Those who condemn
her entirely are those who fud excuses for
mans infamy, because lie is man. and east
the first stone of reproch ut wnmans because
she is woman. With these there can be no
argument. There is no tenderness in their
hearts, no kindness for tho repen'aDt sinner
but cGnsure. Implying censure, where men Of
bread n yield forgiveness if they cannot yield
appreciation.
Reimbursement to West Virginia.