Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-09-15

The COMMERCIAL praises the report of Mr..
Sandiord, late Consul 10 Paris, on the condition
OF Penal lawsi in continental Europe, with analy-
sos 81 the codes of some of its principal states:
The crimes punishable with dcnth in France
under the existing code arc=lsl high treason;
I'd Exciting 10 civil war,3l. Scd0cing the troops
from their duty, 18th. G>urlaton of any Of the
ughi- 81 the executive, 9th. Conspiracy of pub
lie tnctIonaries against II Q internal safety of
the state; 9th. Blows wounds inflicted on Il
public agent with intent 10 kid, when he is in
the performance of his duties 9TH. Murder: sth.
Patriotic, OH. hlaniieide. 10Th. Srqucstration
OF any person accompanied by ply seal torture;
llth. Perjury or bribery of witnesses, when it
results IN sentence of death; Arson, when il con
ssts in burning an inhabited or hnbituble build.
ing.
The code of 1852 diminished the liability to
capital punishment for these offences by extend
ing 10 tn Jury the right Of declaring the cNis-
tcnee ot cAtenunting circumstances, in which
case the punishment was commuted. The moda
OF capital punishment, according to article II
Is decapitalon In cHscs of parricide the pun
i~hueut is aggravated by the criminal being
Comfriied 10 walk bare footed Ia the scalold,
clothed only IN shirt, with Il black veil over
ms head, aud hring cNpoaod on the scalod while
the sentence OF condemnation is read. The ex-
couton of capital punishment is public, and takes
place IN one of the public squares, which is de
NiSlaltu III me sentence. III case o1 pregnancy
the execution of "A woman must be postponed till
after her delivery.
In Russia, capital punishments are denth, hard
lobor "cn ni2inR' in Siberia, and coonizing be-
yond the Caucasus. When the person condemn
ed 10 death is anohe, the sentence can only be
executed VIII, confirmed by the Senate the coun-
ell Of state aud the Emperor. The procedure is
documentary, the right of defence not rceogui1-
ed hld The accused can present atitiou to the
tltrputth "A nj VIII has met Ia,
consideration opposition of counsel.
In Austra, the punishment of death is exccu-
ted by hanging. High treason,uurder, Nc. are
capital offences. 1t is popularity of the penal
system of this empire that when an Austrian com
mits crime in foreign land, he is nevertheless
punished according to the prescriptions of the
Austrian code; aud when he has been already
punished where the crime was committed, he re-
ceiyes, If that punishment was laid down in the
h1w~ of Austria the additional punishment on his
return.
In Spain, capital punishment is executed in
public, ON day which l. ncithcra feast day of
the church, nor Of the nation. The criminal is
clad IN a black mantle, aud drawn in n cart to the
place If execution, accompanied by public cri-
or who repeats the sentence in loud voice: the
manner OF execution i by the garotie or
strangUlatlon by means of the tightening of an
Iron band, which passes around the neck: it is
aggravated for the parrieide and for the regcide;
in the last case the criminal is mounted on an
a., and led 10 the place of execution; he is clad
in yellow mantle and COO, both spotted with
rcd The execution Of the regicde takes place
the same hour OF the day the commission of
the crime.
In Prus-la,hlgh treason, murder, and all crimes
resulting in death, IRE punishable capitallv-
The mode OF execution Is ny d.cnpitation. in pr-
waite, in All enclosed space.