National Republican., 1878-04-23
rHs MECHLrx yUar pIscHAResD.
Justice wyiis Thinks the Daughters should
Have Q Guardian.

Justice wy1fs Thinks the Daughters Shouid
Have . Guardian.
Immediately amer the Criminal Court opened
yesterday the Jury in the case Of Joel R. PMechin.
charged with assaultins his three daughters which
had been out since Saturday noon, was brought In.
and the foreman stated that they had been unable
to agree. Justice wylis said that he proposed 10
discharge them. but before doing So wished 10 ray
. word or two about the case.
whichcver way the Jury might have decided II
would seem TO involve hardship A verdict Of ao.
Sulttal In a case Of this kind be supposed, would
shock the sense Of the community. Ho had neither
Intention OF design to reflect upon the conscien'
tiousness ofthc Jury.
SS S SH would ~ h Be fGSwsn 3y SSnie he
tune but seems to have skill in the line OF his pro.
which he receives ,alary Of sls3 per month.
That Is all that he has 70 support his family. To
impose the sen ptence Of the law would deprive him
the expiration Of the sentence. helpless man, not
able 70 support himself much le. family. i Is
possible that such thought might have had Its
guilty. The sentence under the Indictment would
be- go to speak. the vengeance or the law. and that
entered into mos, all cases but IN the.G where !!
some other object In view.
nNonld 30 misfortune in this case that such
wod have SsS ,oms ,Ssw MsRS, Sna Ne With ~ ry M His
treatment the childron seems to have boen the
conduct Of 4 mndman, and not OF a man with
sane faculties. There Il another remedy In this
case although will allow the defendant 70 escape
tho penal consequences for what he has done. A
parent who abuses hts children. As II secms he has
done, may be deprived Of the control Of them by
court In chancery. guardian, man OF respon'
sibilty may be appointed over them who has some
feeling. This guardian will be under the control
OF the court, and the father compelled by law to
SUPPORT rHR CHILDREN.
A little evidence crcpt into tho case that was In
competent, showing that the father would give &c
pc per mouth iGr Their their support, pr9,yided they would M
cepted by the children OF their friends. They
might have their reasons for not accepting, and the
Court would not say whether they were right OF
not: They were VI nge TO Judge for thcmselves and
under the advice OF friends had chosen to reject
| tons and were II not that tho children have
prospect Of remedy the Court would. be reluctant
| to discharge the Jury. There were fvc cases
| against the defendant and hp thought that ptoba
bly, they would agree on some and fail upon others
Tic had no desire To nry Into the secrets Of the Jury
| charge them. but hoped that never again would
| such case come before the court
| Mr. Taggert, counsel for the defendant, said tha
II II was admissible, and the court would listen ht
| wished to say that Mr. Mccnlin was ready to renew
the proposition that he had previously made. OF set
ting aside so per month for the and benefit o
his children A person might bs designated by tn,
| orphans Court or Ills Honor to whom hislmone,
| would regularly be paid.
| The court replied That the proper place was thi
| court in chanCery, aud. there they would have u
| 90 for a settlement Uf the matter.
| District Attorney Wells intimated that he shoul,
urge rehearins OF the case at an early day unles
| the defendant made some arrangement to pToyid
| for tbs children
c..G.- 4. a