Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-05-06
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.


A short time since we gave some statistics
relating to the operation OF the non-capital pu-
instrument law in this state, and stated it as oul
| impression, that previous to the passage OF
this law there were no convictions for murder
and consequently, no executions. In this we
were mistaken In a conversation Yesterday
with Jonas II. Titus, Esq, who was several
years Agent of the State Prison, we learn
that there were fonr convictions for murder
in the State previous to tie passage of the
law. Of the persons who were thus convict
ed, two were executed, and the other two
committed to Imprisonment in the State Pri-
son.
Thus, in ten years, from 1886 till 1916,
! there were four convictions for murder, under
the capital punishment law, while in seven
! years, from 1916 till 1853, there were nine
convictions under tho present law If we
| compare the relative population of the sever
Al years during the two periods, it will be
| found that there was an excess Of murders
! committed during the former period over the
! latter. In other words, there was greater
Per ccntage Of convictions for murder when
the penalty was hanging than when it was
| solitary confinement at hard labor, for life.
There is an interesting fact connected with
this subject, which we will state. The two
persons spoken of above, whose sentences
were committed to imprisonment for life, have
since been ascertained to have been innocent
Of the crime Of which they We're convicted
and both have been pardoned; and each Is
We learn, leading a respectable life, engaged
in the pursuit OF an honest calling for liyeli-
hood. One of them was a white and the 9TH
er a colorcd man. Had the penalty of hang
ing in these cases been enforced, two innocent
men would have suffered death.
Facts like these will do more to make an
ti-capital punishment men than all the reaso-
ming that can be advanced. 1t is better that
ninety and nine guilty men escape than that
one innocent man should suffer, is the legal
maxim; and if it be an axiom. it will be LONG
before Michigan should have recourse to the
bloody code"
We allude to this subject, not only because
it is de irablo to know the results Of so i'm
portant a change as that which this State has
been the first to adopt, but for the reason that
III other states movements are in progress to
test a law which is called for by very con
siderable portion Of the public voice. Our
experience, so far as it goes, is valuable and
proves at least, that there has been no danger
in. making the experiment Of pulling down
the gallows In other States, where thedeath
penalty is still retained, murder has increased
to an alarming extent, and if we can Judge by
results, the gibbet has no greater terrors than
solitary confinement for life.
1t cannot be disguised that a great change
has taken place in the public mind on this
question; and not only upon this question.
but upon the broad subject of punishments
generally. 1t is only within the space of
few years that the use Of means to reform the
criminal has been regarded as any part of the
duty Of the state. The tendency has ever
been to still further degrade the guilty, rather
than to seek to elevate and reclaim. The be-
neyolent exertions Of few philanthropists-
and among these we NAV prominently men
ton the persoyerug Miss Dix-haye done
much-yery much to change the current of
public opinion. Not only religious and mo-
raj instructors are furnished, but most of the
state prisons in this country are provided with
libraries and all proper means are used to send
the unfortunate criminal ont upon the world
better and a wiser man. He is taught to
believe that there is Vet hope-that he is not
utterly lost. The benefits of this improve
ment in discipline is felt in the prisons, both
in securing better order among the convicts
and in that cheerfulnoSs which naturally flows
from the diffusion Of religious and moral prin-
ciples. The salutary consequences TO the
thousands of discharged conyicts cannot be
estimated.-D Detroit Free Press.