The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-17

The case.of Mrs. Maybrick, the Amer
lean wonaa n incarcerated in an English
nrison. whose case has been a cause
celebre for the past eight years, has
again attracted attention because OF
the recent appeal made by President
Mckinley to Lord Salisbury through
the United ST ates embassy in London
for clemency.
When Mrs Iaybrick was tried in
Liverpool for the attempted murder OF
her husband, noione for a moment sup
nosed that a verdict of guilty could or
would be fourd- One of the papers
rrematurelv announced her acquittal, a
result that was received with universal
satisfaction ard relief In little
while the real result of the trial was
made public and the people were
aghast. She ma d been found guilty OF
murder in the first degree and SEN
fenced to death. Nothing had been
proved She had been charged with one
crime and sentenced for another, and
the Judge, then in falling mind. shortly
afterward retired from the bench.
The trial itself was so doubtful that
the sentence we,s committed, which
never would have kbeen done under the
rigid English law had the evidence been
conclusive. The fact that reprieve was
granted is in itself an assurance that
the home office, stubborn and implaca-
BILE as it has been, was not absolutely
convinced.
Mrs. Maybrick is an American wom-
an with the blood of Revolutionary pa
triots in her veins. She possessed in
her girlhood striking beauty, delicate,
Co, hi,
Il slender, graceful figure with a dig
nifty of carriage which still survives.
She had a brilliant mind, which had
been improved by study and travel and
natural taste for reading. She is an
accomplished linguist. a pianist and
draws and paints, and her manner. aft
er eight years Of confinement in prison,
is still that of a well bred, polished
woman.
During the long interval since the
prison doors first closed upon Mrs.
Maybrick, then a young woman 26
years of age, she has suffered many in
dignities of mind and body. 1t is but
just to say that much has been done
during the past few years to alleviate
the lot of the unfortunates doomed to
a living death in English prisons, and
this has been largely accomplished
through the instrumentality of the HUI
manitarian society. the efforts of chap
lains attached to the prisons, and last
but not the least. the appointment of
women official visitors.
1t is worthy of note that the latest
reform is due wholly to the efforts Of
the British Woman Suffrage society.
the two ladies assigned to Aylesbury
being Adeline. duchess of Bedford, the
sister of Lady Henry Somerset, and
Lady Battersea, both influential mem
bers of that society.
An indignity that was heaped on her
was the manner of her removal from
Working to Aylesbury. She was at that
time i'll with congestion of the lungs,
and in the infirmary, but she was forced
to rise, dress and was manacled during
the entire journey. 1t was a needless
humiliation and certainly indefensible
harshness. notwithstanding that il is
difficult to discriminate in the treat
ment Of prisoners who, within the pale
of the law. cease to claim the rights
and privileges of individuals.
AS to Mrs. Maybrick herself. as a
woman. the manner in which she has
borne her terrible doom is sufficiently
attested by the profound respect and
attention which have been felt for her
in every prison where she has been
and by all who have come in contact
with her. from the governor to the at
PENDANTS and the poor cOnvicts them
selves.
One touching incident is related. the
truth of which cannot be questioned.
At one of the prisons there was a con-
Wet in the cell next to hers who had
been assigned the care of the rooms of
the women attendants. The meals of