The morning news., 1897-05-02

The chivalrie plea that "he killed a man
in defense of his wife's honor did not
hold good in the case of II. S. Perry, who
at Decatur on Friday. was convicted OF
the murder of young Lanier and sentenc-
ed to be hanged In passing sentence up
on Perry the trial judge made special
reference to the Nervousness of the crime
1t is about time that an example IN
hanging murderers of Perry's class were
honor, and that of their wives, in slight
consideration until it becomes needful to
plead honor" for the purpose of saving
their worthless lives from the just penalty
OF the law. Too often such murderers
who pretend that they kin in defense OF
honor" escape the penalties justly due
them because death has sealed the lips
of their victims and there are no others
who can testify with regard to how little
honor was involved. In the case Of the
murder of Lanier. however, the unfort-
unate young man lived long enough to
make a statement of the facts antecedeat
to the shooting. 1t was a clear, honest,
straightforward statement, carrying con,
viction of truth with IT, And the jury ac-
cepted the view of the matter given by
him in his dying moments in preference
TO that urged upon them by his slayer.
There is before the courts of BibD coun-
" a case somewhat similar to this Perry
Lanier case. A young man was shot
down like a mad dog by the husband OF
a woman who claimed that the victim
of '1e tragedy had spoken insultingly to
her. The accused was given no chance
for his life; no chance to offer an expla-
nation. The woman might have misjudg-
ed the man al the door of the circus tent,
or might have misunderstood him. But
there was no thought Of any such possl-
biity in the mind of her husband. He
got his gun, took company along with
him, hunted his victim down like a wild
beast and shot him to death.
No honorable man should pass over an
insult offered to his wife But he should
be sure that such insult was offered.
And even then it is not necessary to kill.
A slap in the face, or a few blows with
a rawhide, are sufficient to show that
husband is ready to protect his wife. The
taking Of human life, except in self de-
fense, and where there is imminent dam
ger of losing ones own life, is crime
which should not be permitted in civil
lied communities. The wanton murderer
should be punished to the full extent Of
the law, and that speedily. No man who
has killed his fellow man should be per-
mitted to go scot free upon his own un>
supported assertion that he did it in de-
fense of his wife, Such plea may be jus
tilted by strong corroborative evidence.
But such evidence should be held absolute
ly necessary; otherwise no mans life
would be safe.
The conviction and sentencing of Perry
is a vlndication of the law, and will have
salutary effect. 1t is to be hoped now
that the sentence of the court will not
be blocked with red tape and technican-
ties. "It was the worst murder 1 have
ever known in the annals of the state"
said Judge Gambler. An object lesson.
such as the hanging of Perry would be,
is badly needed in this state. No one
questions the right of man to defend
his wifes honor. But 1t must be well
proven that the killing was in defense
of her honor, as claimed, or the killer
must take his chances for the gallows.