Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-07-15
From ne London Sunday Times.
STATISTICS OF CAPITAL PUNISH
MENr

MENT.
The sentimental Philosophers OF Exeter
Hall have committed not only gross blunder.
IN reasoning but they have been guilty
doubtless umntentionally, OF the hardly les,
objectionable error OF incorporating facts
IL rs asserted by them that the abolition OF ca
pItal punishment hitherto has always been
attended with decrease i'm the crimes fo
which those punishments were inflicted.
The following extract from paper which ap
pears In the Law Magazine for the presen,
month will abuhdantly esta blish the point
"On the lst October; 1886, death punishment
was abolished ior--lst, attempts to murder
attended 10y no results dangerous to life; 2nd
burglary; 81, robbery; 1,h, arson; and, in the
year ISL, Tor rape. III eUcry one of these
crimes there has been an increase since the re
moral ~ The punishment. Taking the three
years which preceded the change in 1897. viz:
1897, 1886 aud 1885, and comparing the tot
al number in this period, with those in the
last three years, viz: 1874, lSi3 and 1912. we
find that attempts to murder, with and with
out injuries, and shooting, stabbing, &c. the
increase has been 50 per cent. in burglaries
OF both kinds, II has been l5 per cent; in
robberies ol all kinds, ii has been III per cent
In rapes we find a similar result The law
was changed IN 1871, and on comparing the
OF 1914, 1913 and 1912, We find the increase
in rapes in these last years has been no less
than l02 per cent" II this b. not sdtisfacto.
ry on the point that thesbolition of death pu-
nlshments has not hitherto had the effect OF
crime, il is difficult TO say what a.
mount OF proc! the ubolItionists will then re-
iulTe. These figures clesrl and incontes.i.
)ly prove that the punishment of death is
more dreaded than any other punishment, & I
hat, therefore, IL is the most eilectual OF all
in lettering the wickedly dis
losed from committing crimes This is a
'olnt on which we have frequently Insisted.
Here, however, are proofs in support of It's
ruth, drawn not from Il priOri reasoning, /
but from the lrreiagable evidence OF facts ,
themselves. These stubborn things are stuR-
bing blocks in the way OF the philanIhropists
oil Exc er Hall, over which il will be difficult
Tor them To pass. Let us suppose their theo-
~ established ih the case OF murder is IL not
irghtiul 10 contemplate the consequences
thai would ensuc? Following the proportion
IN The other cases, there would probably be an
increase IN murders ton the tune OF 80 or 100
per cent. . AT no other conclusion is il posi-
hle To arrive. Ii other crimes have been in
creased upon the abolition OF death punish
ment, 50 also would murders. The same cause
would produce precisely the same effects. II
the most powerful preventive check was uni
veIsally removed it would be universally, as
II has been partially, attended with an in
crease OF the crime on which its influence had
been made to operate. Assuredly these con-
slderauons Ought 10 show the sbolitionists
mat, even IN mooting the question, they are
doing considerable injury To society. nv rails.
ing in any portion. however inconsiderable.
OF the public mind, presumption against the
Justice OF the law, and SD far creating an un.
heolihy sympathy in favor Of those who have
been made the victims These perpetual dis
cussions have only the. effect of unsetlling
the public mind, and adding TO the hope 81
escape which at all times more or less inAu-
ces theHguiiiy.