Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-18

or that design.
"But she has also said that after her
child's birth, under the divine love ana
commission of awakened motherhood.
she repcnted of her intention of KILL
ing it, and that it came to it's death
by accdcnt---the accident of semi con-
seriousness and the consequences OF her
frar. The Court would gladly accept
this explanation If ii could be corrobo-
rated by the evidence. Unfortunately,
il cannot. On the contrary, the pris-
oner's subsequent behavior points to an
entirely different conclusion. Therefore.
the Court has nothing before IT but
the prisoners confession that she In
tended to take the life Of her child,
and the fact that she did indeed take
it.
The Deemster paused (Gell had risen
and was seen crushing his way out Of
court then he continued:
How her child came by its death
is between God and her conscience.
II Is not for me, or perhaps for any
man. to read the secret Of woman s
heart in the dark hour Of the birth OF
her misbegotten child. Into the cloud
of that mystery only the eye Of heaven
can follow her. But l should fail In
my duty as judge If I did not try
to show that the Court is fully con-
scious Of the physical weaknesses and
spiritual temptations which lie In the
way of a woman who is in the position
of the accused.
Then followed, during some breath
less moments, such speaking as nobody
present had ever heard before except
from Stowell himself, and only from
him on the day when he snatched from
the gallOws the rag Of a woman who
had killed her husband.
II was n contrast Of the conditions
attending the birth Of a child born in
wedlock, and Of child born illegiti-
mate. They all knew the first. The
! beloved young wife watching with n
! thrilling heart for the signs Of that
coming event which was to complete her
JOY; the happy months in which she Is
shielded from all harm the tender so
! licitude Of her husband: her own sweet
and secret preparations for the little
stranger who is to come; the guesses
as to its sex the discussions as to It's
name--until at length. in the fullness OF
its appointed time, the child born in
wedlock comes. like an angel floating
out Of the sunrise. into a world that
is waiting for it to take it into Its
arms.
But the child born out Of wedlock-
what Of that: The poor mother. be
trayed perhaps, abandoned perhaps. be-
reft Of the love she counted upon. living
for months in fear Of every accusing
eye in dread Of the being under her
heart who is colUng to shame her, tc
drive her from her home, to make hel
an outcast and a byword among WON
en--until at Inst she creeps away &c
hide herself in some secret place. where
alone. in the darkness Of night. dis
traught. amid the groans as Of a thun.
derstorm. she faces death to bring he,
fatherless babe into a world that wants
it not.
What wonder II sometimes" sait
the Deemster. lin the pain of her bod.
and the disorder Of her soul. woma,
(all the more If she has hitherto born
q good character should be tempted +
escape from her threatening disgrace b,
killing tho child who Is the innocen
cause of it?
But rightly or wrongly. the law coul
take no account Of such temptations
In the great eye of Justice the issue
of life and death were in Gods hand
only. Life was sacred. and not NOR
sacred was the life that came in th
palace, with statesmen waiting in tn
antcChambcr. the life of the heir to
throne. than the life that came in tn,
hovel and under the thatch. the If
! Of the bastard who was to run barefoo
on the roads.
1T may br thought TO he n hare
law which takes no account Of temp
tatiOns TO which women are EXPOSED
when nature demands that penalty from
I Ippl ,yli ri iS
But we who sit here have nothing I,
do with that. Judges are sworn L
administer the law rs they find It
whatever their own feelings may bc
Therefore the Court has now no choc
but 10 direct the jury to find verde
Of guilty against the prisoner.
There was deep drawing of breatl
in Court. and everybody thought I'll,
Deomster had finished, but after an,
other short pause. in tremulous voice
which vibrated through all hearts, h
continued:
But the jury has n right which tn,
Judges cannot cXercise--thcy can e,
beyond the law. And if. having hcarc
the evidence in this case. and havin,
God and a good conscience before them
tn" jury. in finding their formal YER,
diet, can com" to n conclusion favor
able to the prisoners story. they ma,
recommend her to the mercy Of th
) Crown. and thereby lead, perhaps. t,
the leSSenng of her punishment ant
even 70 the wiping Of it ont altogether
II not, the law must take its course
at III" discretion Of the Governor a
the representative Of the King"
When the DpemStcr's s tremulouS vote
had ceased the jurymen put their head
togorh"r for n moment. Then one o