The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-21
NEW ORLEANs DEMoORAT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER q, 1879
have been unhealthy Or abnormally devel-

Y
have been unhealthy Or abnormally devel
oped2
There Is fact brought out in the case
which is regarded as suggesting such a mo
tive. It Id that of the desire and effort OF thu
father to resume marital relations with thu
mother which she and her relatives repealed
with rudeness and violence. He was ordered
away from the place and neighborhood. This
was done with insult, and every manifesto
ton OF hate, contempt and scorn. The sor
was cognizant of all this. He kept up affec
tionate relations with his father. Doubtless
he had heard passionate and exciting versions
from his father 81 his mothers cruelty TX
him. He probably had taken the side OF hi.
father and argued his case to the mother
and, provoked by her indignant, scornful all
passionate resistance, lost all control an,
inflicted fatal blow with the Ratchet which
unfortunately lay within his grasp. After
such deed the subsequent acts Of the boy
can only be explained BY the reckless desper
alton natural to one In his situation.
But there arises theinquiry for an explana
ton of the visit to Cincinnati and the inter
view of tho son and father.
And On this Incident, and on the proof q
the absence OF the father, who had gone to
the country on the day and night OF the muir
der, Ia based the other theory that the father
was the companion Or the son, and the prin-
| cipal or accomplish In the murder. Color Is
given to this theory by the affidavit OF the
| district attorney.
| 10 work out the theory the probabilities Or
possibilities are thus sketched: The father,
appealing to the fiial affection Of the son In
behalf of the reconciliation with the mother,
induces him to accompany him (the father
On visit to the mother. An alteration en-
sues; the father begging the mother to be re-
conciled; she resisting with bitter revillngs
and irritating taunts and Insults.
The violent despair and passion thus aroused
madden the unhappy man and excite beyond
control the feelings OF the son. Accustomed
to scenes and acts of Violence through the
unhappy effects Of training In bloody war,
the father resents this cruel treatment Of the
woman whom he had once loved by intllcting
blow with convenient weapon. This blow
inflicts death. Then it becomes necessary TO
put out OF the way the witnesses who in the
other room overheard the quarrel and the
screams of the wounded woman. This was
done, and then the father files, leaving
the son to conceal the evidences OF
the crime. The wretched son, after
several days Of obiectless waiting, discover
ing that the crime could not be longer
concealed, abandons the neighborhood and
proceeds to Cincinnati to consult his father as
to his future movements. That consultation
affords no relief or chance of escape for either
son or father. The latter has no means to
supply his son to enable him to escape In
utter despair, the wretched son takes the
train for the scene of the terrible tragedy,
without money to pay his way. He Is put off
the cars, refused admission to q place Of shell
ter, and, either as the accompliCe or as the
witness Of the horrible act of the father, can
see no relief except by self-slaughter.
This theory only needs few links to
be furnished by skillful detectives to be
made consistent and logical one. We have
made this reference to the ineidenton account
of it's painful interest and the illustration 1t
affords Of the prevalence Of the crime OF
murder and Of violence arising from domes-
tic quarrels in section of the country which
boasts of higher civilization and exemp-
ton from such crimes, and necessarily taunts
and reviles the South for the frequency OF
such scenes Of cruelty and homicidal violence.
An array of all such incidents occurring at
the North, originating in the same causes OF
domestic infelicity and social Decentralization,
would present a far more repulsive phase Of
human vice and degradation than any pre-
5entation yet made of the homicidal excesses
-esutinR from political and social feuds III |
he South