Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-27
Aancaster f,1telbge1lrer.
EVENING. DEC. 81. 1890.
About Shooting Husbands.

Some one, in the editorial columns of
the Philadelphia Times, is wicked enough
in this Christmas season to hope that
some one may shoot William Sprague to
give his wife the divorce she seeks with
out public scandal. 1t must be the
Christmas dinner which has disordered
this commentator's judgment and
temper with his stomach. Everybody
knows bit of indigestion sends an un-
due quantity of blood to the head, and
so it comes that naturally the most
amiable people get a murderous impulse
and do and say the most bloody things
under the excitement that comes from
the deranged circulation. We certainly
fail to see any good reason why William
Sprague should I've shot because his wife
has sued him::fOr a divorce, charging him
with grievously SHINING with score or
SO of women, and he proposes to deny
and resist. 1t is clear to us that il one
of this pair must he shot to save the
scandal of the exposure of the sins of
both, or either, it should he the madam.
We thought we were disposed to go as
far rs the farthest in paying homage to
women and in saving the precious crea-
lures from the rough things of life. We
b,licvc in giving them the best of every
thing and in putting ourselves to 40 end
of inconvenience on their account. But,
really, there are some occasions on which
we object to being shot for their sins,
and we candidly think that Mr.. Sprague
has reached climax in his relations TO
Mrs. Sprague, in which lie is eXcusable
in leaving her to stand alone, and GER
tainly is not called upon to offer himself
as a sacrifice to her-eithcr for her sake
or the public's. Wcquite fail to CON-
prehend the idea OF the Times that, I've.
cause the trial of the divorce suit
between these people will furnish
a noisOme dish of scandal to the
public, therefore Mr.. Sprague should
submit to be div"rcel--or shot. OuI
comprehension, we admit, is often
not iirSt-claSi: if it was, doubtless we
would see wisdom in many things we
have To read and find very foolish. But
why Oh cartll-can anybody tell us
should Il man let his good name he taken
away 10y confessing to the scandalous al
legations of i woman which he declares
are false-even if she is wife: and this
to save the public Sensibilities
If the public does not wish to bG
shocke.l-let the public avoid reading
the revelations and if the state think:
that harm is done to the public by per.
mitting it to have IN opportunity OF
reading such matters, let the state de
clare and enact that the trials Shall tx
secret. But do not let us he so silly as tt
provide Il method by which I. divorce
may le sought and the only method
and then call for the shooting of the hus
band who reSists the suit.
Mr.. Sprague is right to resist his wife:
demand, if he denies her aliegat ions; :lnt
he would not I've a man worthy of respect
if he did net. 1t is Il husbands duty I,
cherish and protect his wife in ever,
wav while she lives with him. Bu
when she leaves him, and lives lewdly
and falsely charges him with lewdness
she forfcits al right to expect from hin
consideration or mercy. If Mrs. Spragu
is guilty, us charged, she ought to b
killed. Ii the law Was in accord her
with public sentiment, she would be. W
are willing to say further that if Mr.
Sprague is guilty, rs she charges, II
ought to meet Il like fate. And if Sen:i
tor Conkling is guilty, as he alleges aEt
the public believe, he ought to be boile
alive. We think we represent public
sentiment in ass signing these punish
mentS.