The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-28
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE
m our New York corrs.pondsntl

|
New YoHH, NAV rs. 1886
The administration of criminal justice in New
York presents many singular features There 10
AN ultra sect of extra philanthropists existing in
this community who oppose all capital punishment.
They think all laws for the infection of such pun
ishment ought 10 be repealed, and perpetual inn
prisonment substituted. We have an organized So
cety for promoting this view Of the case, who will
probably endeavor TO bring forward their project
into the deliberations Of the convention to amend
the constitution Of this State, should the people de-
termine to hold one. II is said Judge Edmonds,
before whom Polly Bodine was tried, fayors this
novel feature in criminal Jurisprudence. Without
intending any dsrespect to those who advocate the
abolition of capital punishment, must be permit
ted to say that to us, there does not appear plain
er, more direct or explicit declaration In Holy Writ,
than that "Whosoever sheddeth mans blood, by
man shall his blood be shed.o We do not see what
is to be gained on the score of humanity, by the
substitution Of perpetual and solitary confinement
for capital punishment. Ofthe two modes, is il not
| very clear that hanging is the most humanel When
the Bastile in Paris was demolished, and men who
had been confined within its walls for twenty thr-
ty or forty years, were liberated, It was found that
a large proportion of them had become insane. Cut
ting of man from his fellows, and from speech, for
life, no doGbt would have the tendency to produce
insanity. Is this better than hanging
The effect Of this new social opinion OCCASION
ally manifests itself with jurors here and in Philade
pnld. 40 nanS u man iOr muruer III the laLcr Guy
| has become extremely difficult; and even in New
York, where the doctrine is only believed in TO a
limited extent convictions for murder are found ex-
tremely difficult We do not see how Judge,
who enterains any doubt as to the moral soundness
Of the law prescribing capital punishments for GER
tain heinous offences, can conscientousy take his
oath to execute them, and sit as judge for that pur
pose atss
Considering the black tufpitude Of Polly Bodine's
case, there has been the most remarkable delay In
visiting her crime with justice. II has now been
about year and half since this woman was
charged, on what would appear the most conclusive
evidence, with the commission of deed unequalled
for atrocity in the annals Of crime. Her brothers.
wife and child are found murdered, and the body of
one partly consumed by fire, communicated to the
house, The husband was from home, his wife and
child being unprotected. Polly Bodne was init
| mate at her brothers. often visited his wife, and
said with her all night. Polly, at the time of the
murder, was living with man by the name of
/ Watcher husband having been sent once to the
penitentiary, and afterwards died.
| On the night Of the murder, the 25th December,
lS43 she was on Staten islsnd and there early
next morning seeking ferry boat to come to New
| York. On news of the murder and arson reaching
| New York, she becomes alarmed; and instead Of
rushing 10 her brothers house to grieve over the
murdered bodies of his young wife and innocent
babe, she, on hearing tina, parties had entered Waits
store and inquired for Wait or her, takes to fight,
and wanders about the city, endeavoring 10 secree
herself from recognition and pursuit. After she
was arrested, il was found she had pawned her
brothers. silver spoons, and other articles of value,
at certain pawnhrokers' in the city; the spoons
having the initials Of her brothers. name marked
upon them and she being recognized by the parties
with whom she had pledged them, as the Womsn
who had deposited them there subsequent to the
murders on Staten island. 1t also appeared in evil
dence, that Wait, with whom she was living in New
York, was severely pressed for money. 1t was
Al H. rI L. L-1sL 49, L..
a thousand dollars In cash in the house, and that
the act done to enable her 70 obtain possession
of il, which she, however, failed in doing, as her
brother had conceded it, before leaving, in wood
pile near the house.
This is the substance of Polly Bodines case,
whose father is man of means, and with other
members of the family, has employed the ablest
counsel to defend her; and Polly, although found
gully by jury Of her country, still fingers in the
| NTombsn
Judge Edmonds, before whom she was tried,
gave very fair and liberal charge.
| We hope, however; the belief attributed to the
Judge, in the new notion Of wrong In capital pun
ishment, is not correct. And we also trust he is
not the man of such weak credulty as that attrib-
uted to him by correspondent in New York to
Cincinnati paper, to the effect that DR.. Gray had
under his meseric control some poor, weak nervous
woman, Of such powerful clairvoyance that she
could describe past events, well the present and
future, at distance from her, and of which she was
previously ignorant; that one day, when entranced
by DR.. Gray, she declared to him that Polly Bodine
| did not murder Mrs. Houseman and child, her
brothers family; but that hey were killed by other
parties, or that men had done it. The correspond
ent goes on to say, that Judge Edmonds went to
DR.. Gray's house 10 hear the girl repeat her story,
| and that 1t made a strong impression upon his
mind!! If true can this be the 10Th century, or
is it the age Of witchcraft and wizard craft Of the
dark ages'
| The Journal of Commerce, on the Gath instant,
published an interesting letter from gentleman in
South America descriptive Of journey to the capi-
tai Of Paraguay. He, with his companions, set out
from Rio Janeiro, passed out the southern borders
Grande, ard the town of Puerto Allegro, and finally
entered Corrientes, and from thence entered Para-
quay, finally reaching the town Of Asunclon,
Assumption the seat Of government for Paraguay,
which is large town built after the Spanish fash
ion Il is situated on the east bank of the Paraguay
river, about one hundred and seventy miles above
its confluence with the Parana. They found civil
and hosptable reception by his Excellency Don An
dres Gill Secretary of State, who presented them TO
his Excellency the President Senior Don Carlos AN
| tonic Lopez, whom they found corpulcnt man,
''weighing over two hundred and fifty pounds" He
| entered into familiar conversation with them de-
Tended the non-intercourse policy of DR.. Frpncia,
who foresaw the civil wars that likely to break
out; stated he had not been cruel as represented
that it was true, he visited summary justice upon
| those who plotted treason, but that great many
reputed dead, afterwards found imprisoned, and
set at liberty He assured the party that citizens
from the United States would always be welcome to
visit Paraguay. He spoke favorably of the United
States, and thought we ought to recognise the inde
pendence of Paraguay and establish commercial re-
lutons He thought if some of our enterprising cit
liens would place steamboat on the Parana, they
would do well; that such boat, drawing not over
four feet Of water could ascend the rivers Of the Pal
comayo and the Amiso to the richest portions Of
be made with great facility He said, during the
| Spanish government vessel of 500 tons built
at Asuncion and sent TO Spain.
| The writer states that the country is beautiful,
and well adapted to the growth of sugar, cotton to-
bacco, corn, &C., and supplies many cattle, with
from the town of Nembuco, forty leagues down the
Paraguay river, below Asuncon. The imports at
this point are valued at 500 900 silver dollars which
are increasing and capable of being greatly aug