, 1873-06-29
THE WALWORTH LETTERS,


have the effect OF throwing neV Light on the
tragedy to tho minds OF many persons. These
letters can scarcely fail to influence the verdict
OF the jury, who will be pretty certain to
mitigate young Walworth's punishment On ao-
count Of their revelations. The experience
Of former murder trials, in which less
e1asperat1ng circumstances have led to acquit-
tal warrant this expe citation. It is Of interest,
therefore, to examine deliberately what part
such documents ought to play in susponding the
operation Of the law.
Tho letters theusalvea form a eeries Of the
! Ti1est and most obscene vituperation, and, un-
der tho circumstances which SUIT ouuded their
conception, they arc curioua and remarkable
It they we're tho producti On Of an ignorant and
lliterate man, controlled By brutal passions
and unrestrained by personal culture or
respectable associations, they would bo
dismissed as vile evidences Of vicious
J nature But they Tere written by man
OF education and position, the son OF q Chau-
! csllor Of high name, the pet OF very high-roned
| class Of New York society, fashionable author,
and person who passed for a gentleman in the
eyes Of the world They are addressed to
wife, who comes Of good family, and has enjoy
cd the advantages Of culture. Yet thoy are
filled with succession Of blnsphemous and dis
gnsting epithets, Of filthy and low-aung e1pres-
siona Of degraded and repulsive sentiments
which the lowest pimp would scarcely
address to his mistress. It is rare that
any man reaches depth OF degrada-
ton in which he is willing to put On paper the
indeible evidence OF q mind sunk in the very
dregs Of infamy, as this man Walworth, writer
in the Home Journal, and, for time, sort Of
social lion, has done. Whether the letters that
have. been printed were the expression of man
maddened with grief; or Of q mind that had lost
its balance; or of a deliberate purpose to seek
revenge for assumed wrongs; or Of An intention
to inti1nidate the woman to whom they
were addressed. they bear, in any case
the stamp Of moral degradation that
will go far to enforce the doctrine Of total
deprayity. Underlying the wicked intent and
disgusting blasphemy Of these letters is evi-
dence Of Q sordid nature that renders them
more revolving, possible, tl;an they could
have been otherwise. This society man and
author, this representative Of good family,
this type OF gentleman, broathes, forth his
poisonous and whitening blasphon1y, and threat
ems death to his wife and children, not
becanse of any pangs Of separation or
consciousness. ct disgrace. but =. becauee
his w1:e's delay in signing the papers
Of separation has cost him 3 couple Of |
hundred dollars. Money is the burden Of his
lament, and its loss is what mainly prompts him
to threaten murder. He gloats dendishly over
the thought Of qualification at crushing his
Hifes skull, 'hgutting". his son, thereby blot
ting the nnnae Of Valworth out ct existence,
and then killing himself,-au because of the ad-
ditional cost Of lawyers fees that might have
been saved. He curses his fathers name be-
cause he was left only an income, not fee-aim-
PIE interest in the estate Altogether there has
probably never been written evidence Of q
more infamous, grovelng, and vicious character
than. Mansfield Tracy Walworth has left.
Thackeray's delineation OF Lord Steyne is no.
longer caricature.
;, The impression which the revelations of these
letters is likely to make Oh tho public and tho
jury is that Wslworth's fate "saryed him right" ;"
But, suppose it did; is this any sort OF justihca-
ton for his son? The main purpose OF law is
the protection Of society. We may admit, then,
that the murdered Walworth was brute; that |
be was low, vile, disgusting beast. His letters
ahow all this His mental and moral deformity
waB absolutely hiueous. If it had been OK
posed before, bis death, 1e would have ]
net with q punishment as severe % death ,
tsef. He could never have held up his head
Thero the name OF WalGorth Was known But, !
Infamous and revolving Gs he Was, what right {
lad his son to assume the ofico Of e1ecutioner
md proceed to New York, some time after these r
etters were written, to kill his father How | q
an society bo protected il this right bo con- =
eded /? Young Walworth, by his act, became
he single judge Of his fathers infamy. He took | q
pon himself the functions of tho law he de- =
ided that his father was not it to live; and he a
rocecded to put him to death. If court md jury t
ecide that young Walworth had right to act i,
this case, is it not virtually decision that he I
Ill have the came right to decide in other cases Il
1at he may regard as demanding his inter- 81
,rence? What guarantee has society chat n
oung Walaorth's future vordicts may be as just Il
this, or his summary execution directed b
,ainst the proper pc1Bon? He may, at some Il
lture time, intercept other letters, and find in d
lem material requiring his administration ii
punishment. His ideas OF: onense against f.
scency may become more fastidious n
Id severe with encouragement, aud he es
~ adjudge death IS punishment for IL
oral indecency not 50 pronounced It riu, Sc
erefore be q sin against society II young at
alworth is permitted to 60 freo, at full liberty 81
execute the .verdicts he may arrive at in er
tarc examinations OF private character. G.
Society has q claim beyond the dangerous m
eeence Of young Walworth. It will suffer be