Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-25


IL editor q ~ HeW NevtAssst-
Ma A. s. Duntvay-toeeihly expresses
hsr ssntimsuts upoa . recent noeed
criminal aAair in Oregon - follows:
John A. LAwreoce, Who deserted hin
wife in this c1ty and induced Miss Nellie
Sloan to elope with him, marrying her
IN Astoria under the name Of 4. +.
6quirsa, pleaded guilty IN the Stats Cir
curt Court to the crime Of bigamy, and
vas sentenced 70 tine Of $500, which
amoInt relative paid, and she 0ooun-
drel was set at liberty. His first wife
having obtained divorce, he was
had also returned 70 the State after
and tho dlAGra0ed couple sailed ON the
outgoing steamer. Inns culminated
ono Of the most s0Erovful cases of do
ssEtion and elopement in the annals Of
cf1me-a crime which produced q pgo-
found sensation and shocked every cir-
ole Of Portland society.
Tho Judge and Prosecuting Attorney
who allowed Lawrence 20 escape with %
light . penalty for his great crime were
without doubt aCtuatod by worthy mo-
tives, and desired to do the best under
the circumstances for all parties con-
oefned. particularly Alss Sloan. but Ne
question the wisdom of thoir Judgment.
Lawrsncs's marriage to Alss Sloan
under hls proper name certainly gave
NO guarantee for his good behavior in
tho future. Ii only opens the way 20
further crime by him, and greater
misery for her. She can enjoy NO
a ua1nvnnnn 9TH ~ Nrka1lv 1S,srwnVo<1
wretch, whom aho u honoofOeth 20 call
with tho fear that he will desert
hsf, - b did his first wife in Portland
and herself IN Europe. The marriage
may bring her temporary relief. but It
viii b brief indeed. A thousand
shame away from him than in her dis
live, there viii dOat before her ag0n-
ned vision picture Of the wrecked
homo where tirst she listened TO the
and ner waking and sleeping moments
will be haunted byths fleeing phantom
Of the man she cannot honor, aud dare
not trust, while the aaddened face of
his cruelty wr0n9ed first wife will look
mutely and appsaiingly upon her from
every nook anu corner or her unhal-
lowed home.
The first wife of this monster, grief
stricken and broksn-hsarted, lives in
her Portland cottage in an atmosphere
Of sadness, trcasurinx the ashes OF her
dead love and the dust Of her cherished
hopes, her faith in human truth and
goodness wrecked, and her future hap
piness forever blighted. Surrounded
though she be by relatives and friends,
nAuRht but misery awaits her in the
knowledge that the man whom she 90
hOn0red and adOred. and who proved
10 unworthy Of her WOman's love, il
now the husband Of one who can never
bestOw upon him the affection and no
speCt that made his Portland homo .
haven Of peace and happiness while she
lived IN serene observation-disclosures OF his
hellish nature. No redress has the law
afforded her, aud no punishment has it
msted out 70 the wretch Who 60 cruelty
vronRed her.
Look upon this sad case in any light
No may, It 10 evident that the escape
Of Lawrence only means the greater
ultimate unhappiness of both his VIC
Tins, with the prospect that he will yet
wrong other women - b has Miss Won
Bolton and Miss Sloan. The iron doors
of the penitentiary should have closed
upon him, and saved an outraged COM
munity from the contamination of his
presence. Il was Q grave mistake to
turn the vicious animal loose to again
prey upon society.