Daily globe., 1881-06-09
A NEEDED LAW.

The city intelligence of the GLOBE yes
terday morning chronicled case of sui
eide, which demonstrates the importance
of a law to punish those who deliberately
drives other to oself-destruction.
The event in question was one calcu-
lated to arouse the deepest indignation,
and make it matter of regret that a
penalty, even to the extent of capital
punishment, cannot be inflicted. Three
years ago John Donovan seduced Maggie
Horn, then nineteen years Of age,
under promise of marriage. A year
later, to avoid prosecution, he married
her, but never acknowledged her
as his wife, save as this legal process
compelled him to do. Not content with
having thus completely wrecked young
life TO crafty his brutal lust, he demanded
that she should secure divorce and leave
him free She had given him no ground
for divorce and hence he sought to
drive her to ask one from him, a request
which any court would cheerfully have
granted. He wanted to ego
west,'' and to be at liberty to ply
his vocation as seducer in other fields.
He threatened to refuse to recognize her
on the street should they chance to meet.
This was Sunday night, and Monday she
wlote him letter, saying she was
sorry she had caused him trouble; she
did not want to sue for a
divorce, but she would not trouble
him any more. He coolly destroy
ed the letter, which ought to have pierced
his heart, if he possessed such an organ,
while his victim proceeded to make good
her promise to cause him
no more trouble Procuring poison,
and telling her sister he1
'sheart was broken" she laid down to die,
and twenty-four hours after the demands
of her seducer on Sunday, death gave
him his coveted release.
This is the simple story of the coroner's s
inquest. The seducer and compulsory
husband testified, and with 9TH
=
that the poor girl had said previous to he,
fatal act, but no shadow of regret was
manifest. On the contrary there was an
air of satisfaction that he was at last re-
lieved of an incubus which stood in his
way.
The crime of John Donovan Is not only
literal and actual murder, but in addition
an offense worse than murder itself AND
still there is no law t" punish such MUIR
Jderer He drives ais victim to sell
destruction: and instead of being
punished he obtains the boon which he
sought-a release from his marriage
vows.
Though not always so directly proven
as in this case, it is not uncommon to
find similar instances. Mans peril
dy is constantly driving his
victims to suicides graves. Occasionally
the tables are turned and the man is the
victim, as was the case in St. Louis few
days ago. There is abundant reason fol
demanding legislation to punish the
man or woman who thus commits
murder by proxy. AS it stands
now the suicide relieves the survivor
from ''trouble" as the. Donovan victim ex-
planned, instead of bringing the merited
punishment 1t IS ire that society was
protected from the miscreants who impe
self-murder.
Until this can be secured, public opinion
should infict the punishment A person
like John Donovan should not be tolerated
in any civilized community. He should
be sent forth as a wanderer, with the
brand of Cain upon him. So far az
he can be supposed to have {
conscience, it should be turned into q
Nemesis, to haunt him by night and by
day until he too will welcome the relief
which his victim sought. His ''trouble'
ought to begin, instead of end lat the fresf
made grave of Maggie Horn.
Il