Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-10

labor, because in this instance the "Un-
written Law" did not hold good
| Louisiana has also furnished an
other case of a similar kind, only in this
case the husband himself executed the
vengeance. Baton Rouge society sus-
tained its greatest shock OF two de-
cades recently when Congressman-elect
George K. Favrot shot to death DIR. II.
II. Aldrich.
Favrot was q man who should have
known the law, for previous to his
election to congress he had been re-
spected judge. Yet when arrested he
said that the dead man had injured him
In a way for which the process OF the
law furnished no adequate requital He
had slandered his wife. This, Favrot
said was abundant excuse for taking
Aldrich's life. Forthwith Judge Ker-
nan, who advocated the principle of
the "Unwritten Law" at the American
Bar associations annual meeting, was
retained to make the fight for Favrot.
This case is still pending, so Is that
of Mrs. Anna NJ Bradley.
In the latter tragedy the conditions
were somewhat different. Here the
grievance was that Arthur G.. Brown,
once n United states senator from
Utah, refused to help Mrs. Bradley,
with whom he had lived for years, and
who was the mother of two Of his
children.
This tragedy took place in the Hotel
Raleigh. Washington, and the fame of
the victim made 1t n sensation.
An examination into his life showed
its unworthiness. He had been mar
ried twice, deserting his first spouse for
her who became his second, after di-
vorce had relieved him of ties of his
first marriage.
The second wife introduced to Brown
Mrs. Anna M. Bradley, a woman of
ability, who was secretary of the Re-
publican state delegation from Utah to
the national convention of 1896 that
nominated Mckinley.
From that time Brown lived a life
divided between the two women In
1905 the wife died, and Mrs. Bradley
demanded Brown marry her. He re-
fused and the quarrel lasted till 1t
ended with a shooting In the Washing
ton hotel.
Before breath had left the body of
Brown Mrs. Bradley had decided to
base her defense on the "Unwritten
Law"
All these assassins Thaw, Mrs.
Birdsong. Mrs. Bradley and Favrot-go
back for a precedent to the first great
case or the 'UnWrltten Law, classic
In murder trials-that of General
Sickles for killing Key. a son of the
famous author of THE Star Spangled
Banner"
Sickles. then an honored congress-
man, came into possession of knowl-
edge that his wife was intimate with
Key. Returning home, he caught the
younger man waving a farewell to Mrs.
Sickles, who leaned from a window to
say good by Pursuing Key, Sickles
told him that such an offense could
only be atoned for by death, and he
shot him down.
Public sympathy, with SicSlee from
the start, was heightened when during
the trial it transpired that Key had
boasted he cared little for Mrs Sickes
but gloried in his crime. Sickles was
acquitted and then chivalrously offered
to take back his wife and give her the
shelter of his name. She lived a good
wife to him till she died.
This probably began the "unwritten
law" 1t IS almost the favorite prece-
dent, and If Thaw should be freed on
the same plea it's popularity will take
another bound.
Perhaps tn time may come when to
prevent too great havoc by the crank
with a gun the law will take cogni-
zance of the betrayed girl, slandered
woman and wronged husband and sup
ply penalty that will fit the crime
within the law. without making neces-
sary recourse to such a dangerous sys-
tenn as the "unwrtten law"