The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-16
MARIA BARBERrs CASE.

The comments of the New York
papers upon the acquittal of Marie
Barbara are various. She was ac-
quilted on the ground of insanity. The
World and Journal both devoted much
space to her trial, and in reality
popularized her cause. The World
says:
Maria Barberi, or Barbella, which
seems to be her real name, was yes
terday acquitted upon the ground that
she was insane when she killed her
victim. Possibly this is just verdict
But what is TO be done with the dan
gerous woman now? Has the public
any assurance that she is not insane
now, or that she will not become so the
next time she grows angry with any
body2 And having been once adjudged
insane. would it be possible to convict
or punish her for any future homicide
she may commit? Is not so dangerous
person TO be locked up somewhere
where she can commit no further crime
of violence? Or is the law made a
mockery by expert testimony which
discovers in her mental condition ex-
cuse for past crime, but recognizes no
occasion for precaution against similar
crime in the future?
The Journal says:
The acquittaI of Maria Barberi was
miscarriage of justice. but will never
theless be practically universally ap-
proved.
The woman was guilty of a cold
blooded murder. Her provocation,
though great, was not such as to re-
lieVe her of responsibility for the
crime The evidence tending to show
her insanity is of character which
could prob bly, be duplicated in the
case of almost any woman of her class
and race. Her crime was murder, and
yet the Journal rejoices that she was
not convicted.
PROFESSIONALLY there was, in a tech
meal sense, a miscarriage of justice,
but there was hardly a miscarriage
OF justice as the word is popularity
understood. The woman was betrayed
by the man whom she killed and when
she asked him to make her an honest
woman he laughed at and scorned her;
and she slew him. Technically that was
murder. The law provides a redress
against the man but it is hardly adee
quate TO his crime; while the chances
are that had the Barbara woman in
voked the law it would have done her
the scantiest justice possible, if the
man who wronged her had not gone
scot free. Had a brother avenged the
woman all the world would have ap-
plauded.
The world asks what will be done
with this dangerous woman now? She
is not necessarily dangerous. The
same circumstances that led to her
one great crime cannot occur again.
The really bad feature of the verdict is
that it was based on the plea of in
sanity. That the woman was enraged
beyond control there Is no question:
almost anyone would have been under
the circumstances. but that does not
imply insanity. Everybody knows that
her insanity was merely pretext for
acquitting her. 1t is the assigning of
pretext instead of the true reason for
verdict that causes so much disgust
with juries. The Worlds question
or no the law is made a mock
cry by expert testimony comes very
near covering the case
The Journal says it rejoices that she
was not convicted. That will be the
general sentiment. When the law pro-
vides adequate punishment for such
crimes as were committed against the
Barbara woman, and enforces the pun
there will be no occasion for
such verdicts as the one rendered in
her case.