Well Guest Don - this post may puzzle you but only because you see it your way (is there a song there?)

I have never thought of a 'younger' wife - nowhere does it give that indication.

Let me change the scene a little:-

Clary comes in - 'jokingly' says wife will leave with him - she takes offense & strikes him (first blow) - Clary reacts instictively & hits her - Husband attacks Clary, grabs by throat & repeatedly bangs head against door - Clary draws knife in self-defence & kills husband.

Would Clary be convicted of murder, manslaughter or be aquitted on self-defence grounds?

Good songs make you dig beneath the surface eh?
(BTW if you search for an interview with Billy Edd Wheeler you will find out how 'Coward of the County' came to be written - nothing to do with Stan or Kenny Rogers)