New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-18
The Homicides of 1Sf7-An Argument
for Hanging.
q" For We bid thi- be done
When evil deeds have Their pefmissive per

7c n. Editor Of The Tribune:
As your paper advoc ates, with earnestneEs and
sbil'ty the abolition of Capital Punishment the
following catalogue of murders aud homicides com.
mitted in the United States during the year ending
December 81, lsi7. has been kept and prepared
expressly for it, and is respectfully submitted to the
consideration OF the Editor
Total number amounts to 24G. This does not In
clude 80 persons, who were poisoned to death at
wedding 10 Texas which, being an extraordinary
occurrence is not merged in the general list which
II would swell 70 279 During the year there were
Q persons exeouted-four Of whom were white
men. one white woman and four negroes Several
of these were executed for murders committed
the wear previous Ii is not pretended that the
list includes all the murders committed during the
past year. They were taken from few papers,
,aeh a. the Cincinnati Gazette Ads. Chronicle, DoiGr
C'omsrciai Ner York Tribune and Baltimore Patriot
The E1 wing c.sscation is not relied IA stictly
accurate Some which placed in the first degree might
possibly belong TO the second aud greater number ~
than here given IL is however az correct As could be-
made from the data furnished and may approximate ts
ruth Murders and assasinsous In tho hrst degree 49,
Of which ~ were attended with robbery IL in qaarrels
moving Of previous Misunderstanding "a IN surden
ea.Tes lin drunken rows 80 ARRAYS reucontres sc
no,s snd ffemens fights 10 officers killed In trying TO
Arrest criminals and executing civil process % persons
allied resisting civilofeers BY persons insane wlve.
~ Sss Ssn ossU d Sy oe q bsS
rsro,s By whites 10; whites by negroes IL lynehed
10 oeaih s. in prizs Light, hst fight 2; In duel
10 uybg to sepsfse combatants, = cases oil mystery
such as being found dead with marks of vioeuee lead
ins ~ a Imposition Ct murder, D. Among the toTeeo-
100 % occssionsd BY adultery jeaousy ssduetioo
The sss oyerardi a. nearly could be made ont from
tie notices kilipg BY blows with axes, hatehei'
coils I'D seons iron bars 40 81 stsbbiDg cutting the
throat AZ poisoned, g. not including the - In Texas
drowned, % hung, sangled and ehoke to death
BY blows with the h. cutting on the head IN
fsnt in trying 70 scsd its mother whipped to death 3
ore negro snl Sss., old .s5 by
death with whisky while Ia state oil iptoxicatlon,
by ,hooiios IS OF the remainder the process was noi
stated 81 these by soldiers and volunteers The
two States having the highest number were Louisians ST.
Kentucky So
To what cause are we attribsts this appalling caa-
losue Of atrooious and revolving murders which stains
the annals OF 1877 At no time previous were ever
greater exerons made, by The friends Of humanity law
and order promote the of sound morals than the
present From the pulpit emsnate solemn admonitions
celebrations wanings and denuncistons every
appeal likely TO operate the hearts and oonsenoes OF
nea. The pressthe great lever 10 operate on public
optnieu-uters its rebukes Benevolent societies
eroa, and are sctiye in their concentrated eIerons to
vice. entee the eTing TO the paths OF sobety
u,eiuness aud virtue and to promote Individual hspp
ns,s Resious tracts are multiplied without stint snd
scattered with profusios 80 that he WHO runs may roid
The progress the Of Temperance has been great
sr and more encouraging than al any previous year
Throrsh the setive and uniting exerons OF the nuer
Gus Temperance Associations, thousands have been re-
ON the rock Of sobTey and steady habits Like mortified
members OF the human body restored TO soundn, and
sanity they have been healed ard restored good snd use
fol members OF the communty-having been redeemed
ssepssted and dsenthIssd from the most odious and
sppsrs vice that sasued the passions, perverted
de dethroned the ressoa dsprsved the hp
yes polluted the soul fed the hlos OF hatted Voenee
and crime rendering It's victims burden TO theuseve.
nuisance 10 society and curse 10 their families and
hend,, aud tumbng them into premature sraves IN.
wept pnhonored and unsupg Yet crime OF the highest
Grade TO laws not only keeps pace with all ex
effions but TO Oustrlp men, ALMOST
every week have OF murders OF the deepest
DYE aud revolving babaiy ourasing every feeling hu'
nsnity-
The widest ssyssery, tho vilest strokes
That ever vsleyes Wrath or stuns Rage
Presented to the ears Of soft RemosseT
Crimes equal In magnitude and depIsvity to airy ionod
10 the eAlsDdsr Of Newsste disgrace our community
.ton 10 The eosoms OF numerous families aud rouse and
excite hrsr feelings Of reribuve vengesnce IN tho
eosoi,s OF Surviving relatives and friends
10 'he msanme, active and Efficient exertions arc
usde 10 abolish Capital than known
before and the small humber OF executions in comParisn
with the number Of murders committed Is evidence that
the ssows IL used homeops,hicsliy aud 10 slmost
,s.y seoshsa 20 is IS esngpy persons OF re'peesaois
if.eohshins Cspiis Punishment win cause decrease
IN the number Of murders ALLEGED by some a should
D speedily doDei otherwise
I've must 20 make a seareerow Of the Law
ses.i1s u up to scare the bird: Of trey,
And lei II keep one shape, tll custom make &c
Their perch ard not their terror"
Tn. writer this advances argument in favor Of Ca
piia Psnishmsnt lie only submits to the Editor cus
osae Of Bloody facts which were perpesrsted siuutau
eoBsy with the resous exetons and nssnious Hsunenis
10 fsvof Of doins away with II altogether
It 10 ws Known that In England the convicted narder
sr 10 sure Of the doom Of the eslows Neither fortune
family irfusnce can save from tho fate Of him whose
feet are .~h 10 shod blood" Governor Wal Governor Of
the Island Of Cores had soldiers tosseo 70 death on
charge Of mutuy. Twenty years sft-rwud rs ictofatd
10 EDglsnd. immedistsy arrested tred, sosvls'ed
d exseut-s tboosh the Privy Council lsoored hsrs 70
hin. Recently gallant officer was couvictee @,
ufder for bips bis brother officer In duel tnoash Az
ths euscos Of the oue had been strictly observed ac-
eofdps TO the laws OF honor (so called whish ss9s'
sueh tfsirs ,,
Turn from ihsse Examples TO the South and Wes-pa-
tc9srly In the Slave States ana IL viii be found that o
Of fortune respectable family, and good sAnoi1g
s>iefy ever executed for killing another provided II %
sone openly snd sbovebosrd The slayer In such csses
iesrs lees csrger OF punishment than 10 would cie
ss. pocket handkerchief few examples sre referred
70 others which might be cited In point
Oss Individual saw hs adversary through WIDOW o.
rrttosse, sttipg a. the ccrhs eesk In mont of the
j.ese who we're the bench holding court At the time
I'D deliberately shot him through the head killing him
lasts and the Grsnd jay then In session did not 90
mach = find bill Of indictment against him Another
" cause too tfHng 10 disturb well balanced mind
ssssu sought the seppossd offender and shot him assa