The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-26
TIE THOMPSON VERDICT.

Since the jury returned verdict
of "not guilty" in the case Of Con-
gresham Phil. Thompson for kill
ing Walter Davis in Kentucky, GER
tain newspapers have had much to
say in brutal condemnation of the
jury, of athe defendant, of Ken
lucky justice and Of the morals of
American society generally. 1t is
| noticeable that the editors who are
seyerest in their criticisms are re-
| publicans, while Mr.. Thompson is
a prominent democrat and his home
is in a pronounced Bourbon state.
These circumstances lead one to in
fer that had the gentleman been a
republican his offense would be less
heinOus in the estimation of those
who now berate him. 1t is difficult
to understand what politics has to
do with such an affair, or to see the
relevancy of! referringsto a mans
political principles in such al
case. The crime would have been
the same were Thompson repuhll-
can, greenbacker or nationalist, and
doubtless he would have perpetrated
it as quickly and in the same man
net had he been a member of any |
other party than the one to which
he acknowledges allegiance.
But wherein lies the propriety of
any censure? We can find none,
except in the fact that the jury &C
quilted on the ground Of temporary
insanity. Mr.. Thompson was not
insane, and there is no sense in fall
styling in the verdict. The killing
was Intentional and deliberate, and
the killer was never nearer his right
mind than when he slew Davis.
It was, according to the law, murder
pure and simple, and there was no .
egal defense for it. Yet. what |
'ight-minded men expected any,
hing else than acquiLtal2 No other
7erdict was looked for, because no.
'ody believed twelve decent men
ould be found who would
ay the dishonored husband had
lot sufficient excuse for Staying 8
be sedueer of his wife. Happily,the
ublic opinion of America. whether
/ Kentucky, Texas or pious New I
ngland, justifies the act of the "
illing by the father, brother, hus-
and or son, Of the wretch who de
suches the daughter, sister, wife or "
lother. There is an unwritten law
,plicable in such cases which holds 8
.e slayer guiltless, and no statutory
lactmeEt can nullify that law
lille American men honor and :"
spect virtue IN American women. s
be facts in the Thompson case,
ere simply these: Davis, an old
lend of the family, took advantage II
the poor wife's infrmity, made
II intoxicated, debauched her per :
II, and then turned her out in her
.unken stupor in the hallway of a
lblic hotel. Nothing could be i
ore brutal or fendish. This story
what was told to Thompson, TT
I'd what he believed, and u
,lieviug it there was but one thing
T him to do and retain his man
BOD and self-reSpect. He did that
lie thing, and did it like a man.
e may blush and be humbled on
count of his wife's shame and dis
ace, but for his own part in the
agedy he canfeel no compunetionof n
He should hold his head
J high as any, and the world will
link the better of him for taking u
le life Of the wretch who did him
le great wrong. The verdict OF
;quittal and the popular approval =
that verdict, do not argue a bad ~
of public morals. On the
,ntrary it shows a sad state Of So
ETY. when the husband is punished \
II killing the man who dishOn0rs -
IN as Davis diShonored Thomson