New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-23
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The Belgian Statistics on Capital Pun
fshmeuf,

The Belgian Statistics on CRpisuI Pun
ishmenf.
II is difficult 10 account for the hardhood of the
opPosers of Capital Punishment in referring to Bel
GUM. have before me Report on the admins
tration of criminal justice in Belgium, during the
years 1881, 50, SO ard "a, presented by the Min
lister of Justice NJ. Ernst to the King. This is the
period oftme referred to BY the oppesers of Capital
Punishment with such daring confidence. as if not
an individual had it in his power to show the real
state of the case. The whole of these statistics
bear in favor of Capital Punishment, and decide
with great strength, so far such modicum Of
evidence can decide any thing, against the abroga-
ton or communication of the penalty of death for
murder.
The first classification among these statistics,
which bears directly on argument distinguishes
crimes into two classes, those against persons and
those against property Uader the head OF the
crimes against persons are included murders. Now
from 1891 the time when the experiment of Leop-
old's lenty commenced, to 1885 the accusations
for crimes agains, persons were increasing.
In 1881 they were. 10
1882 ---------....'' ~
1888 (" -----....''I -
1884 ----....----.' lo9
The lest yeer of this experiment being the most
fruitful in crime Among the crimes attempted or
contaminated, Of which the authors *e-e ret dis
covered, there were from 1881 TO 1874 SIX poison
ipgs, sixty nfantcides, one hundred and nineteen
assassiuations in all one hundred and eighty FIVE
murders in four years The Minister OF Just
ice remarks that In view of such grave statistics
as these, it is manifest that the administration OF
criminal justice does not possess the efficiency ne
cessary for the restraint of crime.
Computing the number of crimes of every kind
Unpublished for fault of hringins 'Ae offenders 70
instice there were IN 1901 the number OF ia; IN
1924 ,he.s were 800, showing in this way great
increase of crimes. The number of murders in
the period, from 1926 to 1880, achen capital pun
ishmem 1cas szecuted, being compared with the
number in the period from 1881 to 1884, 'cAen 1t
mas not executed, but Transmitted, gives an iR-
crease in the last period in the number OF murders
in proportion to the whole number OF crimes 50
being, in this proportion, the annual average OF
murders from 1926 to 1880, and AZ from 1881 to
1884 The Minister of Justice remarks that from
this table it is manifest that from 1881 TO 1884
the number Of demonstrations and murders has III
creased in comparison with the FIVE preceding
years.
Again, in the year 1929, when Capital Punish.
rnent was inflicted only II persons were condemned
to death; in 1880, when Capital Punishment was
inflicted, only a but in 1881, when it was com
muted. the number rose to 8, and in 1884 to o.
Here again was an increase of murders under the
experiment of lcnity. Once more: in 1881 the
number of assaults and batteries was 4,444; in
1884 it was 6,05l: showing increase OF J,bOO
under the experiment of lenity. In 1881 there
were before the Tribunal of Police 2l,IlI crlmi-
nails in 1884 there were 24,756: showing an IN
crease of moro than 5000. During these tour
years there was constant increase OF crime. LII
1881, the Tribunals OF Simple Police rendered
,e97 judgements; in 1884, they rendered ll,7G2,
an increase of 3 ,S65.
Now these Belgian statistics are thus proved TO
be triumphantly in favor of Capital Puni.hment.-
They show that the consequence of Leopold ex-
pertinent of not executing the penalty OF death tor
murder was morbid increase of crime, especially
of the crime of murder.
This, we think was inevitable; for the conse-
quenco of an assurance that the law, though re-
manning, will not be executed against murderers,
must be lowering of the moral sense, and an IN.
crease of crime. The opinion of the Minister oil
Justice is strongly marked; had he been going 10
demonstrate against the Kings experiment, he
could hardly have said more; he has told hing
Leopold plainly that thus far during the expert
ment crime of the worst kind is on the increase;
that it has increased above, and compared with the
period preceding this experiments and that his
Maies,y's criminal records prove that his Criminal
Jurisprudence needs more energy. The Staustlca!
argument from Belgium turns powerfully IN iaVer
of Capital Punishment. HeMANlrAs'
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