The San Francisco call., 1898-12-05
,WOMaN -AS A CRIMINAL.
\ ! HATEVER ground woman may have for
 \Af complaining that her natural rights are de-

\Nf complaining that her natural rights" are de
 nied her, when she turns criminal the basis of her logic fails As criminal she has privileges male could think of claiming. She is apt to be re- garded as heroine. At least she arouses a maudn sympathy and escapes punishment. As to her privi- lege of staying the who may have wronged her. or have been simply her companion in evil no serious question arises. There may be an arrest, perfume tory performance at court which is merely trial of patience and waste of time Under present condi- tions in cities around the bay any may kill any man she feels an impulse to kill, and fear no penalty more serious than her conscience can mete out iN+
 In direct defense of her honor, Q her lfe human Judgment would sustain any If she slew her sailant No such circumstance has marked the ous murders committed here by women. Usually they have been cold-blooded, deliberate, and without excuse, that with the tragedy reversed, the woman the victim, the the assassin the gallows would have been the end for him. The plain citizen does not the probability of being eliminated from the material world even by the gentle hands celebrated for
 natural tendency rock the cradle rather than press a trigger.
 Since the execution of Durrant the monster who hanged after three years fight, the law against murder has seemed in a degree effective, There has grown up restraining habit of dropping thugs and killers through the trap reforming the individual and making him useful example. No similarly be- nign influence has been brought to bear upon the woman homcidally inclined She has been taught that she has nothing to fear from any violence and that fit of hysteria and gush of timely tears will wash away her guilt This is not fair to either
 If the Shattuck woman had been hanged, as she richly deserved, for turing Harry Poole into ambush and shooting him, the man-killing habit would not have taken so firm hold upon femninity But this woman, heartless, brutal and cunning, not pun ished On the contrary, the court permitted her to go for the District Attorney, having convicted her once saw the futity of undertaking the farcca pro- ceeding again. Her sentence in the first place had been twenty-five years yet there was not about her deed the first color of justification The only who has been punished was Mrs. Worthington Pen sness friendless, weak in mind and body, g0aded to the by her husband, she excited sympathy. The episode was not romantic the central figure beauty with lachryma founts on tap She did not understand the science of applied mysteries. All the rest of the list have escaped.
 It is with no desire to appear harsh we call atten- ton to the recent tragedy in which the bride of al month sought the presence of her husband, first ing herself and bullet into his heart andanpther through his brain, She claims this was done in self defense. If it was the fullest opportunity should be given her to prove it. and if 1t not, if she sought this man with intent to kill him, the penalty should be as quick and as 1t would have been for him had he slain her The mockng of justice has continued too long, for the rustling of skirt may mark the approach of assassin truly as may the stealthy tread of the midnight footpad. It is high time for the distinction to be wiped out. The bullets sped by the hand of bride carried death with them How is such deed less black because not the work of a man?
 Whatever fate may have in store for this self created widow, is certain that her affords dreadful lesson to foolish girls. She had been red without parental consent. The husband was perhaps in many respects her equal but he was in capable of providing for her, and this she knew In order to marry she forced to lead double life deceive her parents and exist in fear of exposure. A marriage which must be kept as secret as thief keeps a robbery has in 1t element of good, and the girl becoming party to it is treading on dangerous ground along path which can lead only to disgrace.
 l There has yet developed nothing to show that either mentally or physically the the stronger l of the two He did not one who could in fatuate and begule In these illicit alliances the cannot always be put upon the man. though for his share of it he dwels in trembling fear and goes to his grave. She has a share also To hold her blame ] less is grievous wrong
 | A girl who has the protection of home does not need to be protected by pistol. When she resorts z st tat he 6ar