The New York herald., 1849-05-25
Safety OF the City-Arson-Capltal Punish

We understand that exertions are being made
by some of the pseudo philanthropsts with whom
our city abounds, 10 procure communication OF the
sentence recently pass d upon Jones, for commit
ting the crime Of ar,on, in wilfully setting fire
a house IN Orange street, in which several Ia
miles live.
We crave not for the blood of that unfortunate
man, bu, we do hope and trust that the Governo
Of the State will interfere, but that ne will let
the law takes its course. Sympathy is thrown
away on him. lie has been tried and found guilty
of the crime for which he has been sentenced to be
hanged. He was discovered in the act ; and every
circumstance connected with the case shows that
he deliberately and malicousy fired the building
in question. The materials which he used were
admirably well calculated for the purpose and had
the fire not been discovered, there is no knowing
where il would have ended, what ravages it might
have committed, or what loss of human life might
have resulted from his nefarious designs Happily,
however, those when he presumed to be asleep
were awake, late as IL was in the night, and the
villain incendiary arrested, having about his
person abundant evidence TO prove his guilt, had
he never made a confession. lie was, accordingly,
rried, convicted and sentenced TO die on the gal
lows next month
Any clemency in this would be gross act
of injustice to the whole community. 1t is well
known that a great number of the fires which have
caused 20 much destruction of life and property in
this CITY during the las, twelve OF fifteen years.
caused by incendiaries. Frequent attempts were
made to detect the guilty persons but in case sue
c,ssfuly. Al length, and To prove, it were, that
justice would sooner later overtake the villains
who. from motives Of gain or revenge, would fire
their neighbor's dwelling, and endanger the lives
Of our citizens, this colored man, Jones, was
caught and arrested in the very act Of applying the
torch. Why, therefore, should he escape the Pc
nsliy tina, he incurred Let the ruined fortunes
OF hundreds Of industrious and enerprislng men
let the chaued remains of many citizens-let the
smoking ruins and falling walls Of thousand
buildngs-lei the senowing widow and the help
lass orphan, made widow and orphan by the torch
Of The inccndiaIy--aEswer. No-let the law take
its course. An example Is needed, and although
blood will be she'd, ii viii not be shed in vain.
There are many vagabonds in midst, who,
without moments hesitation or consideration, to
CRAFTY private pique, or for the sake of petty
sum Of ten dollars, would fire the noblest building
we have, and look with complacency til. next
moinng On tie rsysges Of the confagraton which
they caused. such persons must receive lesson,
30 ss TO deter them from committing such a crime;
and the only way in which that lesson can be
taught them, is TO hang the fret who is tried and
found guilty. This is the only way OF striking
terror into such Wilkins, and preventing repetition
Of the sad scenes which have taken place in this
city within the las, dozen years or SO.
II is for these reasons that we cannot join with
the friends Of the abolition of the death penalty, in
their efforts to save Jones from the fate which
awaits him and we trust that the Executive will
be firm and determined in the matter, and that he
will resist all opportunities to commute the sem
tence Of the incenoary now under sentence of
death in this city. II there were any reasonable
doubt Of his guilt il would be quite another thing
but all such doubts if any existed previous to his
trial, were removed by the evidence, and by his
own admissions. lie, the law, therefore, take its
course