Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-15
''UNWRITTENL-AW"
UPHELD BY AN
ENGLISH COURT
Soldier Who Confessed to
Having Killed His Wife
Released on Bond Of $25.

London, March 14-'FNever before
in the annals of a criminal court has
a more pathetic or a more tragic
story of brief domestic life been
unfolded," said Mr.. Justice Atkin in
the historic Old Bailey Court.
Before the Justice was arraigned
Henry Stephen Canham. a soldier, %
years old.
The outcome of the case was the
more extraordinary because the i'm
mutable law of Great Britain has new
er recognized that rather emotional
doctrine which is known in America
as the "unwritten law''-and which
often absolves of crime those accused
of murder in France-women particu-
| larly.
Canham was indicted for the muir
der of his wife He pleaded guilty to
manslaughter and his plea was ac-
cepted.
Justice Atkin bound Canham over
in $25 bail "to come up for judgment
if called upon
Criminal lawyers say that Canham
will remain as free as air unless he
commits a crime. He seems to be
emotional, but far from criminal; he
is broken in spirit now.
| Sir Archibald Botkin, the prosecu-
tor, told the court that Canham,
while serving in France, received a
letter from a Mrs. Davis, saying:
"Your wife is not gong on az she
ought to. She stops out all night and
has sold up most of your things. She
has left the baby by itself, and the
| al
| st have seen her out with men
| God is above the Devil always. You
have a gnod mother and she has shed
many a tear about you"
Canham wrote in reply that he had
enough to think of, with shells burst
ing all around him, without being told
that his wife was going to the bad. -
While he was on Christmas leave
he met his wife one night and took
her to his home in Great College CT.
Camden Town. A pistol shot was
heard early next morning, and Mrs
Canham was found dead in bed.
During the night" Canham testi-
fled, my wife told me an army Off
Ger had betrayed her confidence. ]
got my revolver and shot her. I should
not have done my duty otherwise.
about two hours before I was tC
go over the top for the first time
heard that my wife had deserted the
little boy. When I came back after
taking our objective an officer told
me that my wife's conduct had reach
ed the ears of the police.
when I saw her when on leave
said I would forgive her if she looked
after the dear baby. After her cpnfes-
sion my mind went back to the battle
fields of France. Ny revolver was or
the bed tempting me, and the woman
I loved was resting on my arm.
''I said: GLADYS. I have always
loved you There was a moan. Tn
shot had been fired. My wife wa
dead and I went to my mother ant
said, Mother, I have done it. "
Lieut.. I. Galley, who has won thu
Military Cross, testified:
'ECanham is all that a British sol
der can be. When I was wounded h
was as good as a brother to me-
Mr.. Justice Atkin, in imposing sen
tence, said:
"Tt is obvious that while you wert
away doing your duty to your coun
try she neglected your child and you
home, was grossly unfaithful to you
and wrote you insulting letters, ant
yet, with all that, 3pu were willing
to take her back and disposed to for
give her.
cit does not surprise me that, il
the bitterness of your disappointment
: at the departed hopes of happ
life, in the impulse of a moment, yo1
took this woman's life.
while these are mitigating circum
stances they do not justify the tax
ing of life. So 1 must impose upol
, you a sentence that reasoned an
instructed public opinion will believ
, to be fitting to the case"
} Very soon Canham walked out o
court under $25 bail, which severa
, persons offered to put up.