The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13
JUsTIFIABLE HOMICIDE .
Pathetic Question in Morals AGitat-
ing Mems Minds In seattle.

From the st. Louis Republic.
"a recent very pitiful tragedy in my
town has preclpitated a violent discus
sion Of new subject" says J. l.. Sanford
Of Seattle, Wash, at the Southern. "A
physician named Carter came to Seattle
about two years ago from the east, to
start life anew. His wife was an invalid,
and he had five children, ranging In age
from eight down to three. He hasn't
prospered very well, ana after using up all
the money he brought from the east, he
was compelled to pawn nearly all Of his
household furniture TO buy food for his
family. / relate these details to give a
hint of the mental condition he must
have been In at tho time Of the tragedy
In which he was a central figure.
zone night about two months ago he
heard burglars trying 10 break into hts
house. Getting out OF bed, he slipped
noiselcssly toward the window the burg
lars were trying to force In doing 50
he had to pass through the room In which
four OF his children were sleeping. He
thought It best to wake the little ones,
though he did not want 10 make a noise
that would warn the burglars Accord
ingly he jabbed the pistol he carried into
the sides OF the children aud thus aroused
them. The last OF the children 70 be wax
ed In this way was a boy years old.
1.-THE father touched the child In the
stomach with the weapon, and the little
fellow grabbed hold Of Il with both hands.
The revolver was exploded. and the bullet
went into the boys stomach. The trained
eye OF the father detected at once that
the wound was fatal. and he realized that
hts child would linger several hours. may
be days, IN frightful pain. without the
least hope OF surviving. While the little
fellow was wrlthing In agony, the father
deliberately placed the muzzle OF the pls-
tol against the child's temple and blew
out his brains, thus putting a quick end
to his suffering.
"Then the doctor hunted up the chief Of
police, and told him exactly what had
happened He was, Of course, locked up
IN jail on the charge Of murder In the FIRST
degree. News Of the tragedy created In
tense excitement IN the city the next day.
and hundreds OF people wanted to lynch
the doctor. The grand jury In day or
two indicted him for murder IN the frst
degree. and he was held without bail.
his trial was had two weeks later. Il con-
sumCd an entire week. HiB'defense was
iustlnable homicide. He was allowed 10
take the witness stand In his own behalf.
His manner before the jury ana record IN
the town bespoke his tender love for all
the members Of his family. and especially
for the son whose brains he blow out.
"He told the jury that he killed tho boy
TO put him out Of his misery, and exc
planned scientifically the utter possibility
OF tho child'H recovery from the accidental
wound. Othor reputable physcians also
testified 10 the same belief The jury
wranRlod over the verdict for twenty-four
hours. and then set him free. The verdict
divided the entire population OF the state
into factions that are carrying on w0rdy
war. The newspapers are printing col-
umB OF Interviews ana communications
daily on both sides OF the question OF
morals ana humanity Involved Was Dr..
Carter Justified IN killing his chlld7
Should he not have trusted 20 the science
OF which he ~ an exponent TO save the
little boys lifef ] suppose the answer 10
matter Of Individual opinion and that
no general rule cau be applied 10 such an
auusual occurrcuCC.Y