SHOULD A WIFE TELL?

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 12

SHOULD A WIFE TELL?

CONFESSION OF A PAST. NEW YORK, January 12. Should a woman, once wedded, for ever hold her peace concerning her prenuptial peccability? This is the question raised once again by a murder case which has ended in the conviction for manslaughter of Marie Vetter, a wife and mother, 24 years of age, and her white-haired sexagenarian husband, Ernest, for the slaying of Alonzo Storey, a former lover of hers. The Vetters were devoted to each other, but in a moment of hysterical contrition during illness, she had revealed to her husband her girlhood's ove affair. A man of kindly disposition, ho had omforted her; but the confession had ho effect of instilling in his heart the poison of jealousy and suspicion. This was rendered more potent by the consciousness of the difference in the couple's ages. Life became unbearable for both to a point where the woman in desperation proposed that she should hunt up Storey,- invite him to the house, and let Vetter, in concealment, judge from their conversation as to the truth of 2r professions of loyalty. Fight With Knives. The scene was set one night, and her one-time lover came. But Storey would not follow the reminiscent lead if her conversation. He could see only in opportunity presented to renew their orr.icr relations. He became so pressing in his attentions that the woman was forced to repulse him and call for < ielp. White with rage, Vetter entered. At • -.'.(; of lii ra the visitor drew a large pocket-knife. The men struggled all over the room. So much younger, Storey ••i- 10 get the better of his opponent md slashed his neck and chin. Then the woman rushed to the 'dtchen, and returning with a knife, assed it to her husband. At the same ime she struck Storey on the head vith a short iron bar, dazing him. A hrust in the side by Vetter ended the t rugglc. T -i ihe morning they wrapped the body in a carpet, took it in their mdtor car to Jamaica Bay, and threw it off a pier. Some fishermen found it. "It all comes of an old man marrying a young woman!" exclaimed Vetter 'utterly. His young wife seated beside him onk his hand and stroked it. "I am to blame." she said. "If I had told you all before you married --«. th** would never have happened. You would not have wanted mc." "I do not blame you, Marie," he renlied gently. "But it would have been i,.t«v if you had told mc. I should have wanted you just the same."