The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-05-10

ty of murder by a jury, OF which tWt
members were women, at Seattle yes
terday. One of the women and sew
eral of the men jurors wept wher
the verdict was returned. Ruth
laughed gaily, kissed her mother ano
smiled at the morbid crowd in the
court room. The crowd evidently
sympathized with the girl and APP
proved the verdict.
Ruth Garrison, girl of Is years
fell madly in love with a married
man. He was weak and yielded to
her charms. The two rented cot
tage and lived together in Okanogan
county, Wash, as husband and wife.
Ruth went to Seattle where her low
er's wife lived and invited the latter
to take lunch with her. She placed
a deadly poison in a fruit cocktail
which she gave her guest and IN a
few minutes the latter was dead. She
was arrested and soon admitted her
guilt. There was no dispute as to
the facts. She was found to be "men-
tally irresponsible.
Let us reverse the case. Suppose
Ruth had been a young man who
had fallen in love with another mans
wife and the same relations had ex-
listed between her and the husband
of her victim. That she (no we are
supposing that "she" is she" now
had murdered the other man for the
purpose of securing the latter's wife.
Suppose he had been arrested and
there was no dispute as to the facts.
What would have been the verdict of
the jury? 1t would have been muir
der in the first degree and, as Wash
ington has reestablished capital pun
ishment, a sentence of death would
have been the sequel.
Therein lies the difference, pref
ty woman charged with murder at
once becomes the center of maudlin
sympathy and romance. A man
charged with crime under the same
circumstances becomes a monster of
the darkest dye. 1t has been said
"there is no sex in sin" but is there?
We believe there is "sex" in the pun
ishment awarded sinners by our pres
ent system of criminal trials.
rz - "a
WHOSE WORD GOVERNS?
The peace treaty provides that
Germany must replace "on ton for
ton basis" all of the ships destroyed
by German submarines, replacing
those of the allied nations first and
those of neutrals later. To do this !
Germany must surrender most of her
merchant marine and engage to
build other ships until every ton of
shipping sunk by German submarines
is replaced.
And this raises an interesting
question. Whose word will be taken
IN determining the number of tons to
De replaced? Germany announced
through her daily reports, the num-
DER of tons of shipping destroyed by
Ter submarines. These accounts
,laimed many million more tons than
he allied reports admitted had been
Junk.
Now the question arises will Ger
nany's claims be the basis of settle
nent or will the claims of the allies
e used as a basis? If Germany de-
lies that she sunk as many tons of
hipping as she claimed (and the al /
les have her "officiap reports) she {
1ust admit that she deliberately lied {
D her people at home. If she insists
hat she told the truth to her people
he will have to replace many mil
on more tons than she would it she :
dmits that she lied and that the :
5atement of the allies in regard to /
lie amount sunk is true. In either d
ase Germany stands to reap the re- S
ard for her wickedness and disre- y
ard for truth. c
Sc p Ea n
MOTHER TOMORROW g
Tomorrow is "Mother's Day" the v
ost sacred day of the year. 1t is
ational holiday, day to be devoted '
the best friend man ever had and
whom he owes a debt that he can 9
ver repay. When William Howard
aft was president he started the
stom of wearing white carnation
this day in memory of and in honor
his mother. 1t is a beautiful Gus q
m. rs
Moscow ministers will devote por y
m of their services tomorrow To N