The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-05-07

and very beautiful woman Of "a, with two
children. Her grief is terrible and her condi-
ton critical. We read that she has high
fever and cries out in her delirium that her
husband is innocent and calls him in the
most endearing terms" This affection, il not
her life, is the spoil of this murderer. II she
die it is another homicide. And the children;
they take this mortal agony, almost unaware,
to grow with their growth. Count the years
and the days in the year, and estimate the
value to them of the watchful care that
can never now be theirs, of the worlds rich
est affection, its best treasure, the love OF a
parent. What should be done with Thomp-
son is an idle question. What is society 60
ing to do to purge itself of such offenses |?
Will there be public meetings anywhere,
called to resolve against themi Will the
murderer be denounced, not hanged! Will
Congress expell him in vindication of its
honor How is society to purge itself OF such
false sentiment as that Thompson is justified
il Davis is guilty.
There is indeed doubt Of the guilt Of Davis.
1t is thought the story was scandal Of one
Miss Renshaw. But the wife of Thompson
whose honor wanted this vindication is a
chronic subject of such scandal. She has on
her hands what is called the Cincinnati
charge" Of which, as Of others, he is aware.
Doubtless the murderer was without support
from any sense Of her security against guilt.
So, convinced of its probable truth as to her,
he accepted the whole story. Thereupon he
destroys huriedly young life, happy and
blameless so far as anything is known, with
even more crushing and more
appalling. This act would be utterly unusti-
fable if he had known the guilt or had dis
covered the parties in fAgrante delctu. As il
WIS, it is a staggering and stunning outrage.
Suppose it true. Then the mother Of Mrs.
Davis is said to have declared "That if she
believed Walter was untrue to her beautiful,
pure and loveable child, she would not raise
her hand to shield him, and that he was served
right" This is horrible. Are the American
people Guinea-men or Congos of Africa?
is this false logic with which society defeats
Justice, and brings upon itself endless misery
Mrs. Thompson was not a girl ignorant Of
herself, Of the human passions, of the falls.
VOWS OF men, Of the consequences of her act.
She knew all these. 1t was not a case ofinno-
;ence seduced. of first affection betrayed. She
mad a husband who occupied the theatre Of
lei passions. She entered deliberately into
rhine, was qualified to be responsible fer
what she did. When done, why should any
Ither than she answer to Thompson for il?
If murder was necessary TO vindicate his
honor, God help US again, why should
not her murder be the proper one
But this committing murder to vindi-
cate honor is a solecism quite too ridiculous.
The man who has the slightest sense Of honor
cannot do murder, nor take life. What he
'indicates is. his claim to a mistaken social
esteem, his title to the respect Of others as
blind and seli-willed as himself. But what
can a man recover Of an unfaiihful wife by
the partner of her guilt? She car
lies the deadly sin, as well as the ineradical
stain. Why should he not have discarded
ler, and been thus amply indicated? Can
ne vindicate honor by numbering some one
else and, then, continuing to live with her
Does he vent his murderous passion upon the
protector of an innocent family that he may
preserve his unfaithidl wife for his less san
culinary passions? However it is looked
upon as most fagitious crime, and calls
Tor public reDrehension at the hands of every
by its public press, its pulpit, or
IN public assemblies.