Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-24
lTHE MASTER OF MAINLY Sir Hall Caine
of Problem Of
The Demte Woman Thou Cave Me-"

The Governor looked at Stowell for
n moment and thought.
Hes Ill. and he's trying to unload
his conscience.
Then he said aloud.
80 you've come to ask me To-
1--WE come to ask you, sir, to with.
draw your objection to the recommen-
lation to mercy, so that the death sen.
tence may be eommuted to imprison'
Again the Governor looked at Stow
ellis heated face and thought. Yes,
he s III, and doesn't see that am hght-
''Do it, Sir" said Stowell. "Do it,
for Gods sake. before 1t is too late,
and there is such an outcry throughout
the kingdom as will shake the very foun-
dations Of justice in the island
The Governor was still smoking lei-
surely and keeping his eye on his hower-
beds.
"Gardener, don't you think that bed
Of geraniums---" he began, but Stow.
ell could bear no more. ,
"l;ood God, sir, isn't this matter OF
sufficient importance to merit your Mt.
tcntion?"
The Governor turned sharply upon
him. threw away his half smoked cigar,
and said,
Come this way
Not another word was spoken until,
returning to the house with q certain
pomp Of stride, with StOwell behind
him, the Governor reached his room
and closed the door behind him. Then,
unlocking his desk, he took out q large
, envelope (the same that Fenella had
seen at breakfast) and handed the con-
tents of it to Stowell, saying,
Look ut that"
Stowcll saw at glance what it was
and uttered a cry Of astonishment.
Then it's donc.'
Yes, It's done. And now ut down
and listen to me-"
But Stowell continued to stand with
the paper crinkling in his trembling
fingers.
"iou say Taubman told you l re-.
ported against the jury's recommenda
ton. Quite true! As President of the
Court and head Of the Manx judiciary,
l told the Home Secretary l saw no
justification for it-no justification
whatever
Stowcll was silent. .
"You say It is fifty years since such
a crime has been punished by death.
Perhaps 1t is, but the fact that the stat
ute remains is proof enough that the
| ~" SohtChpiutCo al ~ A.AeS y
properly be exercised. This in my view
was such a case and I had every right
to say so.'
Still StOwell remained silent.
"You say the prisoner may have
acted from n good motive. l see nc
good motive in n mother who takes the
life of her child. You speak Of her
shame, but shame Is no excuse for crime.
Why shouldn't such women suffer
shame? Shame is the just consequence
of their evil conduct, and to try to es-
cape from it by making away with their
misbegotten children Is crime
Stowell was trembling but still silent
PITY for women Of that sort Is sen
timental weakness. Worse, 1t is a dan
ger to public safety. The sooner such
people are put out of the world the bet
ter for the public good"
There was palpabIe silence on both
sides for some moments. The Governor
glanced at Stownll's twitching face ant
began to be sorry for him. ''Goot
Lord he thought. "why can't the
man see that it's best for himself thai
the girl should die? As long as sh,
lives the wretched scandal may breal
out again and his own share In 1t may
come to light. And then Fenella! How
could I allow her to marry him with
that danger hanging over his head?"
Stowell's fingers were contracting