On Liberty

Lore & Background

It was expanded, rewritten, and jointly corrected by the married couple.

Reader's Guide

On Liberty was a greatly influential and well-received work. It introduced the harm principle, stating that the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others. The Mills asserted that democratic ideals may result in the tyranny of the majority, which they considered worse than tyranny of government. They proposed three basic liberties: freedom of thought and emotion (including speech), freedom to pursue tastes that do no harm, and freedom to unite under certain conditions. Some classical liberals and libertarians have criticized it for apparent discontinuity with Utilitarianism and vagueness in defining the arena for contesting government infringements on personal freedom.

Did You Know?

• On Liberty was published shortly after Harriet Taylor Mill died.
• The Mills argued that tyranny of the majority is worse than tyranny of government because it is not limited to a political function.

Early Life and a Path Forged by Restlessness

He completed high school in Oregon, then transferred to Dumont, New Jersey, where he finished his secondary education. A subsequent run-in with the law over illegal drug use led him to enlist in the Marines, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. After leaving the service, he settled in Dallas—drawn there by his father's presence—and pursued night coursework toward CPA certification while also working as a model. His professional life ultimately centered on accounting, a steady career that contrasted sharply with the volatile personal history that would follow.

A Pattern of Violence and a Deceptive Facade

Battaglia's relationships were marked by escalating aggression toward his partners. His first marriage to Michelle Ghetti in Dallas produced a daughter, Christie, but Ghetti—herself an attorney—eventually sought his arrest for harassment. He struck her outside Christie's school, broke her nose in one incident, and in another attacked her at a bus stop in retaliation for her legal filing, sending her to the hospital. Bradfield Elementary in Highland Park. Despite this history, Pearle noted he had never struck the girls and appeared devoted to them. As columnist Jacquielynn Floyd observed, he had convinced those around him he was a loving father.

The May 2, 2001 Killings

Instead, Battaglia drove them to his apartment in the Adam Hats Lofts in Deep Ellum, Dallas. From there he phoned Pearle and, while she listened, shot Mary Faith three times and Liberty Mae five times. During the call he prompted Faith to ask her mother why she wanted him in jail. The little girl begged, 'No, Daddy! Please don't! Don't do it!' Pearle screamed at the girls to run, but the damage was already done. Battaglia told Pearle, 'Merry fucking Christmas,' a cruel nod to the prior year's assault. After hanging up, he left a voicemail in the children's bedroom calling them brave and saying he loved them. He then visited a tattoo parlor, getting two roses on his left bicep to represent his daughters. Officers apprehended him shortly after; he fought them, sustaining a black eye, and sixteen firearms were seized from his home.

Trial, Sentencing, and a Long Wait for Execution

The jury deliberated for only nineteen minutes before returning a conviction on the top charge. He was transferred to the Polunsky Unit near Livingston. Pearle, who had initially declared she would not attend the execution, reversed her decision and ultimately witnessed it. His daughter Christie and his first ex-wife Ghetti both publicly supported carrying out the sentence. Appellate lawyers moved to reduce the punishment to life without parole, but the appeals process stretched for years.