Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-16

| of how the offense of adultery had been
regarded.
How is it In Virginia for adultery?
y paltry twenty dollar fine. 1t is be-
cause we have less regard for the fam
iy circle than the ancients? No. The
lawmakers say we have no need for
that law because the Virginia gentle
man VIII deal With the offender him.
self"
According to the English a mans
home is his castle. and he who invades
IL must expect to receive his punish
ment. What is home-home sweet
home? II there is no family to greet
you, there is no home, no dear ones
only the cold walls. You mean to SAY
Il man can invade a home, break 1t up
anu be fined Il paltry $50. Yet, the Dis
trict Attorney says that is the remedy.
Ihrow your doors open and the adul-
terer Will walk in. There are thousands
who would take the opportunity, but
none who would be willing to pay the
penalty. This is not the first case
nothing new. only this one is a little
uncommoner. There have been others
In the same position as my unfortunate
client is in. but there is vet to be erect
ed Il gibbet in Virginia for a man
| charged with the offense the accused is
charged with"
MIR. Thorp here told OF the killing of
Barton Key by Daniel Sicliles for the
| same oncnse Cannon was charged with.
Sicl<les was promptly acquitted and to-
day is respected citizen. Mr. Thorn
quoted other cases where men who had
seduced others wives and paid the
penalties at the hands of infuriate ed
husbands. All of the prisoners men
toned were promptly acquitted. These
descriptions were only to draw com
parsons with the present case. Con
tinuinS. Mir. Thorp said: These cases
are not reported in law books because
there is no appeal of the Commonwealth
and OF the United States. My position
Is that Michael II. Prince. when he
shot Charles j. Cannon did exactly
what a sane man should have done
and something that an insane man
couldn't help doing. That's my opin-
ion. God put him in that frame of
mind and made him do as he did The
fact that Cannon Is dead and gone does
not restrain me from criticising his
conduct. II is the jurys duty to crit
iCisc it"
These mon were friends in all tho
term II implies. and Charley Cannon
invadcs the home of his friend: does
worse to him than if he had slain him
1t would have been a mercy had he
blown his friends brains out rather
than TO have degraded him that way.
lie degraded him to an extent never
heard of. Cannon gave him the great
est provoca lion man ever gave to man.
The district attorney said that Prince
was living at the expense of his wife's
shame. Then why did Prince kill Can
non? The district attorney said Prince
was cool when he killed Cannon. Under
the coolest exterior shoulders the hot
test blaze. That poor boy climbed
step by step from the ships hold to the
high position of captain of police. That
speaks for the man. The district at
torney said the man was trained to be
cool. All the training man ever had
doesn't train fhe human mind over the
human body. The learned district at
torncy would have wanted Prince TO
run out and cry My home is ruined.
my children are ruined and should
have published the facts to tho world
Prince cherished the lingering hope
that it might be terrible mistake
that of his wfc's periidy. He stayed
home and would have told tie court
ana jury what happened when his wife
confessed, but was not allowed. How
Cannon accomplished his dia bolical end
Is not known. What he used To do ii
with Is unknown. and what YOU do
know is that Mrs. Prince said it WAS
true. .cturc the man. IL YOU can
leaving his dcsolate home. rackcd ana
tortured between contrndng and con
ilctinS emotions. coming down the
/ street, getting the money. wandering
like lost soldier. lie goes to his
brother in search Of soiacc His lock
was unusual: there was something ter
ribly the matter with the man but his
iron will stillcd the deep shame AMI
infamy in his heart Was he seeking
Charles Cannon? If hc had been seek
Ing him he would have been doing
right. Put that down Mr.. District Al
torney as my opinion. Il citizen of Vir-
GINA. But there was not scintilla OF
evidence to show Prince sought Can
non. have heard of cooling times
but not in such Il disgrace as this
There isn't a man on this jury that
could cool off the balance of his life
were he placed in similar position
He stood between love and duty--that
OF saving his children the terrible dis
grace and that of avcnging Il wrong
II seems as if the clements themselves
conspired 10 madden this injured mans
brain. lie met the poliutor OF his wife
I and tells him what his wife had said
and what does he do? He would have
said 1t was q Godsend if his wife had
lied. ] wanted him TO prove his wife
liar. but Cannon not only admits his
guilt. but inferred he was going to
continue his course. What could Prince
do? He stood, his mind already dis
tracted, his blood drenched with dis
grace. and yet the district attorney
says 'hanS this man. Under the techni-
cal law you can't hang him. The evil
dence demonstrates that when Prince
shot Cannon he was an irresponsible
agent. Unless you can believe that