Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1915 — M'COY NOT GUILTY OF MURDERING WIFE [ARTICLE]

M'COY NOT GUILTY OF MURDERING WIFE

Jury at Frankfort Upholds Unwritten Law in Dealing With Man Who Killed ito Avenge. William McCoy, who killed his wife N and her paramour, John Byerley, fit Frankfort, has been adjudged guiltless by a jury at Frankfort on the charge of wife murder, Which was the first case called. The jury was out almost all of Monday night and ib is understood that for some time three of the jurymen held for conviction on the charge of manslaughter. Finally however, all voted for acquittal. The other case against McCoy, that of murdering Byerley, will proceed at once. As Byerley was perhaps more to blame than Mrs. McCoy for their illegal associations, there is small chance that McCoy will be convicted on this Charge either. By this decision, which seems to have been backed up by the sentiment of the people of Frankfort, the jury has given approval to the unwritten law that entitles a husband to kill the despoilcr of his home. It has gone further and justified the husband in killing his unfaithful wife tvs well. Several similar cases have occurred' in Indiana within the past few years and in each case the husband has escaped punishment. It may thus be assumed that any man who enters the home of a married man for the purpose of wrecking its happiness takeS his life into -bis -own hands and that if discovered he may be killed and his murderer will escape punishment. Perhaps this is the most certain way to suppress this brand of moral vipers, Whether the best or not it has had the stamp of approval of a number of Indiana juries during the past few years,