The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-19
DRAGGED INTO POLITICS.
Complications In the Case of the
Condemned American.

Boston, Aug. fS.-The Herald prints the
following from its London correspondent in
regard to theMaybrick case.it being the sum-
mary of the situation up to Saturday night.
1t shows that the report of the London
News agency that Mrs. Maybrlck had been
reprieved was premature or false altogether:
A decision in the Maybrick case was ex-
pected Saturday, but it had not come at mid
night and will probably be deferred until next
week. The newspapers. from the greatest
subject The petitions are being signed and
systematic agitation is being carried on. SO
far as official action is concerned, however,
the condemned woman is no nearer reprleve
than week ago. Home Secretary Mat
thews, with whom the case rests entirely,
refuses to see depntation and declares that
he will be guided entirely by Judge Stephens
views in the matter. Both are firm men and
neither will be moved by public clamor.
though it seems scarcely possible that they
can resist an appeal signed by so many
eminent medical men in case OF this nature.
There is much to be said on either side, but
the fact that the newspapers, pro and con In
the Maybrick case, are divided on party
lines, tends to discredit their sincerity. Inc
government organs. assert their opponents
are using the Maybrick incident 70 ln]ure
the home secretary, and the opposition
papers declare that the woman is to be saerl-
feed to save the reputation OF Justice
Stephen. The Lancet, which may be con-
sidered an unbiased authority, however, re-
views the evidence exhaustively, concluding:
1--WE can have no desire that the royal prer0-
gative of mercy should not be exercised in
this case, but as duty to the living rela-
lives of the deceased Ito painstaking, fear
less and honest jury, and to one of the
greatest ornaments of the English bench, we
solemnly assert, as our unbiased opinion,
that the verdict arrived at In Mrs. May
bricks trial was warranted by the evidence,
Several eminent medical men, who were
invited by the British Medical Journal to ex-
press their opinion in the matter, decided
that the verdict Is in accordance with the
evidence, four out of six believing that Mrs.
Mabrck is guilty But Ehe case
two things that there is something. wrong
with system, whereby the judge virtually
directs the jury's verdict. and that an appeal
to the crown is not a sufficient safeguard In
the jury what its verdict shall be-, where is
the advantage of having jury at all and
if judges reputation is considered of more
Importance than sinful woman's life, how
shall she obtain justice? VI course, the
government is not convinced OF any necessity
for change in the system of criminal
procedure. as the attitude of the lord
chancellor when the question was raised by
Lord Fitzgerald indicates. 1t is enough that
there is a popular agitation behind the move
"Defects in the judicial system are not
appropriately discussed" said the lord
chancellor solemnly. II the government
admits, however, that there are defects in
the judicial system, and that the Maybrick
trial has brought out those defects, it will be
difficult for the home secretary to justify
himself in refusing to advise the Queen to
grant pardon. 1t is practically admitted
that the doubt in the case is too great to
warrant her being hanged, but if there is
that element of doubt, she ought not to be
kept in prison at all; but should go. free:
The question which occupies Mr.. Matthews
now is, whether she is to go scot free, or
whether it shall be imprisonment for life.
He is in a difficult position. and although he
chancellor, Mr. Justice Stephen and the
experts today, he does not quite see his way
clear to definite issue. But it is accepted
that Mrs. Maybrick will not hang. The
general conclusion seems to be that she will
be granted a reprieye, and that afterward
she will be pardOned.