The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11
MRS. MAVERICK.
A Fer,,d Reply to Mr.. Conway.

i
To THE Eprron OF THE SuN-.Sir, have only
this moment seen the letter of Mr.. Moncure d.
| Conway in The SUN OF Sept. 30. To those OF
your readers who are not aware OF Mr.. Con-
ways reputation for accuracy. will you permit
| me to note that:
Mr.. Conway speaks OF Mrs. Maybrick as "un-
| der life sentence for the murder OF her hus-
| band"
Mrs. Maybrick is not under a life sentence
| for tho murder OF hor husband She is under q
| life sentence for administering and attempt
| ing to administer arsenic to her husband with
| intent to murder him" This Ia made crime.
| specific and separate from murder. by English
| statute law, and it's penalty Is imprisonment
for life Mrs. Maybrick was found guilty Of
wlful murder by the jury and was sentenced
to death by the judge She was subsequently
found guilty of attempt to murder and SON
fenced to penal servitude for life by the Home
Secretary, which penalty she Is now suffering
Mr.. Conway says that Mrs Mnybrick es-
capped tho galows through popular senti-
ment which rccoiled from the barbarity OF
strangling fair neck"
The Home Secretary. who arranged tho "es-
cape" says that it was because. after tho
fullest consideration. and after taking the best
medical and legal advice that could be OBJ
tained." he found that the evidence did not
tNCluuc TtHSDHaDIS uOuDt NuetucE hio Nshi'
Maybrick's) death was. in fact. caused by the
administration of arsenic"
Substantially. then. Mr.. Conway says Mrs.
Maybrick was not hanged for murder because
OF her fair neck. Mr.. Matthews says 1t was be-
cause 1t was not certain that there had been
any murder There is not man in the world
who has shown less interest In the complexion
OF Mrs Maybrick's neck than Home Secretary
Matthews. and think your readers can safely
be left to decide for themselves as to whose
reason for the e. respitS Is the true Mr.
that lit wa as proved and not denied that Mrs.
1t was not proved. and It has been strenu-
aneS SH It. had fGs pM2s
Oh, 81 penal servitude. for life. ,-,.,
MED that Mrs sAi Maybrick' $ husband died Of
hrsonic. large 1upntties Of which were found i
that no Proved tha M ded
Of arsenic Is the pivot on which turned the
Tor her 5eGpS f.
Is not only not proved that he died Of arsenic,
but it was maintained by tho highest MEDICAL
Maybrick could not have died Of arsonical
poisoning; that all the symptoms pointed
ing been found in Mrs, Maybrck's possession.
not one grain OF arsenic was found In her pos
session. The. Judge himself distinctly de-
clared that Mrs. Maybrick hnd-I don't use
the word possession. but undoubtedly she
had access to it'-but so had every other pcr-
son in the house. 1t was not in Mrs. May
bricks possession nor in parts of the house
peculiarly appropriated to her 1t was just as
accessible to every servant. guest, and fro
quenter Of tho house as to her. and then there
l. no proof that i was in the house before Mr..
The Judge darcs not say Mrs. Maybrick had
possession Of the arsenic. MIR. Conway dnres.
Your readers will know which is the Drawer
man. This is enough to show the value Of Mr..
Conways conclusion that this is "a plain case
OF SLOW. deliberate. crafty. murder. inspired by
vulgar. adutcrous intrigue" 1t is enough
to show the nature Of that mental perception
which sees in Mrs. Maybrick "a cold-blooded
murderess."
have hitherto referred only to facts. will
now hazard an opinion. Mr.. Conway has been
In London and heard American proyincialism
remarked on several times. There is no pro-
vincaism so grent as the fear OF being thought
provincial. l trust we shall hear American
provincialism remarked on several hundred
thousand times rather than give over any form
OF effort to rescue an innocent American woman
from nm English prison.
Let me hazard one more opinion. Mrs. May
brick. during oil her young life. never commit
ted Il sin that can be compared In enOrmity
with the criminal ignorance. falsehoOd. and
recklcssness displayed in the letter Of this
Jerohoam, the SOL Of Sebat. who would make
Israel to sin. GAIL HAMILTON.
1I-T O. 1891