THE UNWRITTEN LAW.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 110, 1 February 1908, Page 15

THE UNWRITTEN LAW.

ANOTHER ACQUITTAL ' •The unwritten law achieved yet another signal (triumph in the acquittal at AVashmgton of Mrs. Briidlov, who was charged with murdering her lover, Senator Brown, whom sho shot a year ago. < ; The ' trial ;has been m every way a cause colebre, and has excited scarcely less interest throughout America than that of Mr. Thaw, earlior in the year. Since it began the ontiro Pross has devotel itself to'exciting paroxysms of pity amom; the public 011 behalf of tho prisoner and her-illegitimate Children.-' But the result was really neVcr in doubt, for American juries are notoriously averse, even m States wliero electroculnou does not prevail, to ■ sSntenclilg a woman tu capital. punishmoilt;- ■ y •

-When, therefore, tlio presiding judge, summing up; impressefl on the jurv that tho prisoner deserveil ■ their commiseration, and thoi&urdereil maft tlit'ir indignation, adding that no one with a spark of -chivalry ul his bosom,could.-Weigh m equal balances a man and.a wonlail when passing mor.it judgments, tho vordict was a foregone conclusion. Only one .man of the entlro: '12,' indeed, urged the necessity of inflicting some punishment on the prisoner. - He, ;when he found, himself in a hopeless minority, subscribed .at midnigElfc to ths opinions of Ins ft-IW-jurors. i . The almouheemeat ilf the vordfet precipitated scenes of lnteitscfeutliusiasm.! Scores of the, women in Court rushed to Mrs. Bradley-,-shook* her hand, and/.assured het of their warmest symputhy. . .• - . •Mrs. Bradley, who feared above, all things disagreement of the jury, which. .would to followed by.-the ordeal of a second trial, teoeived her acquittal without tho ushal flood of.rtears. She repaire<l for a few brief moments to her: coll, and ithenj with her - two children,! who have been her constaut companions;in "gaol, entered'a motor-car belonging to her.counsel. . • v ■ . 1

•••ivfler progress, through the streets resembled a!triumphal Procession,• vast crowds surging round-the vehicle and ■cheering vociferously.' She; intends lo -retire to (ioldlields, Nevada, where she will devote, herself to the Upbringing of the children of the murdered senator. UNWRITTEN LAWS TRIUMPHS. '• Sirs. Anmo Bradley,'killed her lover, Seuntor Bfoivn, when ho refusod to marry her and legitimise his children. He hail promised to do so when his wife died, tie tailed to kedphis promise, and" Mrs. , Bradley followed hirii from her home iu Utah to Washington, where she entered his hotel' and shot him dead, j Vi'Hors -is only:- one 6f Severalvrtotabte caste in which tho unwritten law has,been pleaded at /murder 'trials/within tho past few years. Other instances are :< -s :■ .

• Judge' Lovinc, of Virginia," shot, Theodoro Esf-es i'-Jwhom ■: ne ,accused, ■ot wronging,, his (laughter. Estft'a offcliCe was not proved, hut Judge, Loving was; triumphantly acquitted. . •-The htOtheris 'Strotliers, also of Virginia, forced Mr. Bywaters; ,who had wronged their to marry.her, and shot' him dead by her bcdsule. Acquitted. -. :j- ■: , • Louis D. Strong, of Macon, Georgia,: killed Henry'.Di Smithi; frho;pronged ■ ter,-"arid 'was: acquitted after 1 -a: triaKlaSting onlv.three r ,: v ... ■■' / ■t Harry Thaw, slayer of- the architect. Stanford.. AV Into, whom ho accused of wrongitig The unwritten 'law was pleaded,, and the: jury disagreed. f New. trial; Mipeiidi'S J;