The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-20
NO SEX In CRIME.

Mrs. Hartley, convicted of murder in
the second degree at Reno. New, doubt
less owes her life 10 the natural reluctance
of the average jury to doom 9 woman to
death. Mrs. Hartley deserved death; she
shot Senator Foley in fit OF rage at her
failure TO persuade him TO sign papers
compromising himself. The woman seems
to be dspraved adventures. Her char
aoter came out in her passionate deciara-
ton that ANY man should be shot who
would strike q woman" or course any
man should be shot who threatened to
strike a woman with the probable purpose
os seeking to do her bodily injury that
placed her in presumptive peril OF her
life. A woman has just the same right TO
shoot a man who threatened TO strike her
that q man has to shoot anybody. man or
woman, who threatens TO strike him with
deadly purpose or probably fatal result
Suppose, on the other hand, q woman
should threaten 20 shoot a man or stab
him to death, would not q man be justified
in defending his life even 10 the extent Of
striking the woman before she could strike
him or in killing the woman before she
could kill him9
Mrs. Hartley evidently thinks that death
should be inflicted upon any man who
strikes . woman without regard TO the
provocation given by the woman in the
shape Of threats to do violence with q
deadly weapon. The mere sentimental in
Jury, the iusuIt can only be reiressed by
the murder of the insuiler. That Is the
Mrs. Hartley theory Of justification for
murder, and II is a barbarous theory which
ali abandoned men aud women hold. I.
is the gamblers and bally's theory of JUS
tlce.
If aman gives his fellow man the lie.
murder hi IA; If man strikes his fellow
man with his fist. murder him; IL q man
slaps an insoisns depFavsd woman's face
and raises q chair when she draws pistol.
why then the man should BE murdered
forthwith.
This Is not the theory of the law; the
law does not allow 8 man 90 murder his
fellow man for any sentimental reasons;
nor does il allow a woman any more la.i-
tuae 10 murder . man than IL does man
20 murder woman. A man mar XII a
woman in self-deiense or a woman a man
ia sslf-defense. bat the law does not ALLOW
either man or woman to plead that ne in
salted me" a. = ground for ienieaey 10 Per.
sons guilty Of capital crimes.
Ths law Is common sense IL reason,
that the loss q property may be reg.inea.
iess;y uninstly forfeited may be restored
has human hfe once taken can never be
restored, and fer this reason the Law al
loss no lie 10 os taken except in self-ds-
Tense.
II the insult" theory wss once accented
ss ratification for murder we should have
viadicsive men and women constantly
provoking az snemy's rage, proddIng him
% strike IN order 70 murder hiu swiftly
and safely within the law.
o. eoaFsa. no such theory" Of iastii-
abe homlc.as can be or Is entertained ey
lie gas. ana TIE Jury who secept il are
eitasr Nhifaily false to tael- oAths or
are 100 dal and ignorant % understand
sheLr Gasy. There IS no sex in crime: IL
there Is then woman Is not TIE equal Of
man n mora responsibility for her actions
sae is . mere passionate, gTosn-ap eAua,
VITO can always he permitted to invoke the
b@sy act as deleass against civic fraud or
capital eranasA