The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-02
The Augustan Age OF Murder-Twcnty-
two Women Killed I'm Three YearH

Several weeks ago we ventured to assert that,
although but one woman had perpetrated
murder in this city during three years, her sex
was really the cause of the one hundred and
forty-one murders committed in that time.
from a survey of the following enchanting
panorama, unfolded for the benefit of those
who honestly believe woman to be bullied'
kicked, stabbed, shot and knocked out OF ex-
istence without any natural means OF self
defence Sentimentalists call woman weak
and appeal to the chivalry Of man to protect
her against wrong. Let sentimentalists gaze
and confess their lack of Judgment.
1S7O.--It begins with the murder Of Anna
Almeyo by George Bauman. Separated from
a worthless, drunken husband, the woman
teaches in Bauman's private German school,
until the master teaches her to love him better
than principle and the old, old story ends in
bloodshed. Who else but the woman should
be blamed for this tragedy The month of
February records the shooting by her husband
of Margaret Sheridan, aged thirty-one years
and July tells us how Mary Nelson, aged
thirty, is beaten to death by the man who had
sworn before God to love and protect her. In
September Mary Won Harestadt, aged twenty
five years, is shot by William Marsh. In No
vember Ellen Currick is killed while being po-
litely thrown down basement steps by either
George Woodruff, Edward jackson or Robert
Carey. It really matters little which man does
it, for verdict of s'served her right" ought in
any case to be rendered, and doubt thrown
upon the deed exonerates the doors. If q
woman persists in being woman she must
take the consequences and when three men
in their weakness attack her in her strength
the case should be quietly dismissed, and the
sportive lambs allowed to roam at will. This
is justice. This is the way to preserve life.
The year 1877 tells a still more cheerful tale.
1t begins merrily with the murder of Margaret
Jones by her husband, whose infdelities had
led to such unwarrantable expostulations on
the wife's part as to force Jones to indulge in
manly castigation, for which he was once sent
to neighboring and secluded island. 1t is o
bourn, however, from which all Joneses soon
his restoration to wife, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness by becominga confirmed drunk
ard. On the day in which che carves in o
way that all admire, the brave soul imbibes
twelve times before succeeding in obtaining
an appetite for breakfast. Upon attempting
to go out, with perhapsa view to Kidding the
earth of some sober man, the valorous Jones
is dissuaded by his wife, who promises to
brew punch. in reward for as unexampled
self-sacriice as was ever recorded in the
history of crime. While the faithful
wife stands at the cupboard busily engaged in
compromising that for which Jones throat
| thirsts, the spectacle becomes too touching for
Jones tender eyes. Approaching Margaret
from behind Jones seizes carving knife,
plunges it into Margaret's groin; then, fold
ing his arms like an Arab, carefully steals
away, and to-day lives to tell of hairbreadth
'scapes by wife and knife. "Where is he P"
ask the police, and they will echo "Where?"
1t is enough to know that Margaret Jones dies
in half an hour, as every wife should who tries
to keep her drunken husband at home If she
prevents his numbering strangers in the street
she must expect to reap the consequences of
her folly. Women never will learn to mind
their own business. Eve set most pernicious
example Husbands are always prosecuted,
and when on the LIST of April-a most appro-
pirate day for practical joking-"Annie Bowe,
aged forty, dies of compression of the brain
from violence at the hands of her hus-
band" we feel as cordially toward the
injured man as Simmons friends when they
rush into Court to grasp him warmly by the
hand and to give his righteous cause the
benefit of their moral support. Perhaps, how
ever, we sympathize more sincerely with the
husband of Margaret j. Rudd, who sends his
young wife to her long home, by new route
recently opened, and now quite extensively
used by men of Rudds calibre. This route
is quite short one. All that is required to
become passenger is an open third story
window. One gentle push and woman is
launched into eternity before she knows it.
Could any death be kinder? Really Rudd, as
the founder of new school of husbands, has
incurred the worlds everlasting gratitude.
What jury would convict so great benefac.
torP Is not bis wife addicted to drunken.
ness and does she not fall out of the window
When women have no husbands it is incum-
bent on some male friend to act in that capa-
city, as does James McGanley, who violently
disposes of Agnes Kelley in the torrid month
of August
Occasionally there are men wild enough to
commit suicide merely because Of having
murdered their wives Two such sentimental
cases occur in 1871. The first is one strangely
misnamed Felix Dorsey, q carman, blessed
with five children and delirium tremens. In
the presence Of his family this infelicitous
Felix sharpens knife, makes q lunge at his
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