The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-13
DRAMATIC HANGINGs.
From the N. Y. Tribune.

rTOTt the w L. 1TtOune.
Are our Philadelphia neighbors going to
make hanging fine art or is it a thing
they are secretly ashamed of and are trying
feebly to practice but keep out of sight The
recent execution of the poor wretch Hanlon
was involved in an atmosphere of mystery
and dramatic gloom worthy of the stage. 1t
took place not in the court yard, but the cor
ridor of the prison Only dozen privileged
spectators were present. The window through
which the scene was visible was draped in
muslin or Grape. The prison officials were
absolutely dumb; all questions of enter
prising reporters were answered but by a
silent shake of the head. 1t was equally inn
possible to ascertain whether Hanlon had
confessed his guilt or what he had for break
fast. The prisoners whose doors opened into
the corridor, and who, if anybody is to be
benefited by this exhibition of the majesty of
the law, might be looked upon as in need of
such lesson, were shut out from the spec
tacle by leather flaps nailed over their graf
ings. Enough representatives of the press
were admitted, however, to publish to the
world of evil-doers the fact that Hanlon died
''game, and forgave his enemies in the esta-
blished formula.
Now we want consistency in the advocates
of hanging. For our own part we do not
look upon the poor wretch who, out of drunk
enness or sheer excess of his animal nature,
hlio as III any bOIb u nero. we 10 uOt
care to hear whether he has "nerve" or not,
or what is his opinion of his jailers. He
should be quietly taken apart as a
tainted wether from the flock, to be
cured if possible, but in no wise made
the subject of melo-drama. If our
friends in Philadelphia regard hanging as
necessary to avenge outraged Justice, and
not as terror to evil-doers, why were the
press admitted at all Why not put the VIC
ay,I tof4l Il,-E
if capital punishment, according to the old
arguments, is bug-a-boo to deter other men
from murder, let u.s. in the name of common
sense, have the time-honored gallows-tree,
and Jack Ketch in his fame-colored gown
and mask, and the yelling, cursing multitude
below to learn their lesson. What that lesson
is We all of us know. A criminal who disap-
pears for life into penitentiary loses pres
tge forever among his fellows. His fate is
more than terrible-it is disagreeable to them
because it is one of hard work and no glory.
But the man who shows his pluck to the last
on the gallows is a hero to the youthful Jack
Sheppards who look on. The very class who
are intended to be frightened by his fate are
the men who sing with admiring gusto of
how ''the night before Harry was stretched"
he played cards on his coffin, and when the
drop fell she kicked, but that was his pride.
And ''died with his face to the city,
The man to whose worst nature murder is
not repugnant, or to be abhorred for itself,
is very likely to have better trait of brute
courage which will not be scared by hanging
These men are the class, as we said, who
watch the gallows with such anxiety to know
how their fellows go off; and 1t was for their
benefit, we presume, the Philadelphia officials,
while keeping strict silence on questions that
would have settled the point of Hanlon S
guilt, suffered the tidings to escape that he
''died game"