New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-03
G1ILOIYS INCIDEATS.

The bearing of John Han0n, hanged at
Philadelphia last Wednesday, is only another
instance of the stoldity with which hardened
criminals submit to strangulation, and exhibit,
at the supreme hour a truly religious resig-
nation. The career of this Hanl0n was eX-
tremely vile, and his crime such as only the
most degraded nature could be guilty of; yet,
under the maniDulatiOns of the priests, he died
cheerfully, previously begging everybodys
pardon i'm the most amiable way. We hope
that it will not be deemed irrevercnt if we say
that this is mere childishness and mummcIy.
The fact that man is to be hanged cannot,
we affirm, change his moral character in the
twinkling of an eye.
One does MT like to be uncharitable But
here is one guilty of a crime which nobody
with a spark of maniness could cOmmit-the
violation and murder of a mere child; and 1t
was not his only 0ffense of the kind. He is
sentenced TO be hanged, and he Immediately
becomes devOut. He has constant interviews
with clergymen Of the faith which he processes.
He lives for seventeen days upon diet OF
bread and water. He prays, he confesses, he
prostrates himself before crnciix-and then
he il all ready for DEATH Does anybody doubt
that he expected to be saved by some thau-
maturgical process, with nothing really spirit
ual about itf Now and then 1t happens that
n prisoner objects very strongly to the rclg-
ions processes to which condemned persons
are subjected. This is the ease with RulOif. OF
whom The Binghamton Republican reports that
he altogether declines Spiritual consolation
"or advice; :" and we have known personally
another instance of the kind. We certainly
do not desire to speak barshly or unjustly;
but the question will arise whether the cap
italy convicted may not mix up violent relig-
ious pi Professions with that hope of ultimate
escape from impending doom which is said to
remain in the bosom of the condemned to the
last moment.
Whatever may be our opinion of legal
stranguation, the fact remains, not to be gain
sayed, that murdcrers are hanged or not
hanged according to luck, OF for some other
reason quite Independent of their crime. Here
is a writer in one of our exchanges who wants
to know why HanlOn was hanged, while Reddy
the Blacksmith is out on bail and is in no more
danger of being hanged than the most innO-
cent person in the community. This is qucs-
ton which we cannot answer. There are
mysteries and mysteries; and most mysterious
is the working of the gallows. Now and then
we sec murderers walking straight out
of Jail, and meandering as freely us if they
were of childish innocence. In some States it
has, in our time, been the fashion for the
Executive to pardon all the capitally con-
victed. Then came the reaction, and every
body convicted of murder was hanged with
DracOnian severity. But there still remained
the Scriptural warrant everlasting and ire
pealable, "Whosover sheddeth mans blood,
"by man shall his blood be shed"-an
injunction still regarded by some people as
Divine, but which is dsregarded every time a
murderer or even manslaushterer is spared.
There is a great deal of poor logic about, but
gallows logic il the lamest.