The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-05
THE GRAVES SENSATION.

The telegraph, a s one OF the accom-
pishments of modern civilization, makes
the world acquainted with an undesirable
succession of horrible sensations. the num-
Der of which almost benumbs the feelings
and tends TO harden human nature into
csllousness. Occurrences which shock a
quiet community in an isolated rural dis
trict are matter of mOmentary wonder
in a thronged city and possibly do not
elicit a shudder in a general way. The
fresher incidents blur the memory of
those which wore OF yesterday, and oft
recurring events become familiar and take
rank as a thing of course in statistics of
obiauity of life. In nothing is the rush of
modern existence more conspicuous than
in apathy regarding the horrible. The
gruesome. ghastly, tragic and criminal
aspects of existence tumble over one an
other like waves on a sea, merging in un-
ceasng phenomena Of moral unconform-
ability.
The case OF DR.. T. Thatcher Graves. who
has just committed suicide at Denver, has
been discussed with almost as widespread
interest as the Borden tragedy. In going
to his self-made grave the doctor left a
legacy OF material which can hardly fail
to set society by the ears and rake I'D in
bitter controversy every factor in pain
ful prosecution Tor murder. Whether the
defuuct has left anything but heap of
mendacitieS behind him, aspersing charac-
ter, sowing charges against officials broad
cast and making himself out a martyr to
persecution of the most wicked stripe,
must henceforth be a subject of wrangling
and obscurlty. Many will believe the
man because he had the courage or cow
ardice to die by his own hand. Others,
and these the vast majority of the think
ing. must be slow to assume that there can
be such an Infamous conspiracy anywhere
in America, with lawyer at the head of it,
to send man to the seaffold on suboI ed
evidence by a manipulated Jury and cor
rupt bench The indictment has, however,
been preferred in the letters left by the
deceased. Those documents are rhetorical
and assertive rather than calmly cogitated
statements resting upon evidence. In the
accusatory sense they are vehement, but in
the matter of proof they are weak and
lame. The heart of man is full Of guile,
but it requires large assumption of hui
man depravity to suppose that what is
imputed TO Attorney Stevens rests upon
any real foundation. The object is SO
small to be attained at the price of such
iufamy and criminality as is involved
Stevens is bound to make some answer in
order to satisfy the public conscience, but,
accepting the ordinary rules which ac:uate
human conduct. the story is on the face OF
it utterly i'm probable, unless we are pre-
pared to believe with ZoIas fiction in the
bette humane.
Graves was awaiting second trial for
murder. The jury disagreed on the first
trial. The crime alleged was the poison
ing of Mrs. Josephine Barnaoy, a wealthy
widow of Providence, r. l., the alleged
motive being to escape detection of defal-
cations as manager of her estate. There
were some doubts as to whether the second
trial would take place. bu. the authorities
resolved to proceed, and the accused has
spared them the trouble. The suicide
leaves everything 10 doubt. but it is Just as
easy to imagine motives for seIf-destruc-
ton az to couture up accusations again st
those who are responsible for the prosecu.
ton. 1t is an old saw that murder twill
out. There are many tragedies which
never are explained, and it is almost a Ger
tainty that the Graves-BarDaby mystery
can never receive full solution.