Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-06-18

The character Of crime and the circumstances
attending it show The cause from which it springs
less, if not more, than lis frequency. tits, We
doubt not, much clearer criterion. l. the law,
With stern penalty and an eager eye ever ready
to detect and punish the criminals? Then crime
will be, in the first place, rare in the second
place it viii be The result of sudden passion or
long nourshed ard often exasperated enmity, be
coming finally, too strong for the restraints CT
fear or morality. On the other hand is the law
lax IN lis penalties and feeble il its administration,
or the same thing. whatever be its penalties, un-
certain and doubtful of its executions, crime will
be found resulting from comparatively weak temp
tations. The danger of detection being removed
by the doubt of punishment, no pains will be taken
to avoid it except where the possession Of plumber
would be lost. Are not these remarks corrobora-
ted by the murders recently committed around us
when compared with similar crimes omnltied in
years past when punishment was much more cer-
tain than now.
Compare the murder comm i,ted by Choir in
our county with tina, many years since by Howe
in Angelica, N. Y. The provocalion in both Ca
ses was strikingly similar and Ue presume are
well known 10 many OF our citizens.
Howe procured rifle, kept it concealed, laid
his plans deeply, concealed himself in the dark
ness of the night near the dwelling of his victim
and when by some means ne had drawn him 10
the door fired and ilIed him.
Choir steps TO the door in broad day light, sees
bis enemy within gun shot and shoots him in the
presence Of witnesses.
We know CT no better explanation of The differ
en-: modes pursued by the different men. than the
result of the crimes. Poor Howe was loo early
in The age with his revenge. He found no poPu
larily seeking Governor TO pardon. No Ju
ry yearning with sympathy at the expense of JUS
lice to acqut, 10 befogged Physician 10 swear HIM
insane, Combe and .Phrenology1eing judges
and he died. Poor man, could he have foreseer
The '.march Of mind he might have nursed hi:
revenge I'LL now and, grati6ed il with safety
Choir found enough of these to answer his pur
pose and he "stalks abroad" revenged.
Another in our county with a similar provoca
tion has followed in the "footsteps of his prede
cessor'' until he has reached the blood and 1t re-
mains TO be seen whether he too shall be lei TO g
al large.
/ Contrast the recent outrage at Monroe will
any other having similar object, and the SAINT
difference will be observed. But TO prove tina
like causes produce like effects esewhere,we vii
but mention the case of McConnagha in one of tn
counties of Pennsylvania, during the administra
ton of Governor Porter of s.Pardon" memory
This wretch employed the whole day IN the muir
der Of the entire family Of his falher-in.law, hay
ing laid his plans weeks before the day appointed
for the accomplishment of his cruel purpose, {
bring the absent members Of the family home The
no part Of his design might fail. The father-in
law alone escaped TO bear witness against thi
murderous wretch, who clearly evinced the fini
blow to his weak and wavering conscience, b
firmly relying on pardon from Governor Porter
! nor did he confess his crime or believe that pal
don was not in the hands of the officer, until iuI
ned offthe scaffold. The rope broke--he unhaE
1 py man, when again brought TO consciousness COZ
fessed his gull, and was executed.
You will allow something for the length of III
communication to the importance OF the suhJec
s- a q. a5.o.. JUSTITIA FIAT.