"A marionette in the hands of masterful men" the sage murder of 1893.

Abstract

• Opsomming: 'n Twintigjaar oue meisie en haar minnaar is in 1893 Gearresteer vir die moord die meisie se vader. Uit die ondersoek sowel as die verhoor was dit baie duidelik dat die meisie nou betrokke was by pogings om haar vader te vermoor deur hom te vergiftig en te skiet. Die manlike jurie het haar egter onskuldig bevind terwyl haar minnaar die doodstraf opgelê is. Die uitspraak was populêr gedurende daardie tyd, maar die vraag wat ontstaan is waarom sy kwytgeskeld is . Die artikel suggereer dat Mary Sage gesien is as die hulpelose slagoffer van manlike ondeug.

• Summary: In 1893 a twenty-two year old girl and her lover were arrested for the murder of the girl's father. In both the enquiry and at the trial, it became clear that the girl was deeply involved in attempts to kill her father by both poisoning and shooting. The all-male jury however, found her not guilty while her lover was sentenced to death. The verdict was a popular one at the time but the question which arises is why she was exonerated. It is suggested that Mary Sage was perceived to be a helpless victim of male vice.