New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-11
DRAMATLC HdNGINGS.

Are our Philadelphia neighbOrs going to
make hanging fine art or is it thing
they are secretly ashamed of, and are trying
feebly to practice but keep out of sight 7
The recent execution of the poor wretch
Ianon was involved in an atmosphere of
mystery and dramatic gloom worthy of the
stage. 1t took place not in the courtyard.
but the corridor of the prison. Only a
dozen privileged spectators were present. Tho
window through which the scene was visible
was draped in muslin or Grape. The prison
officials were absolutely dumb; all questions
of enterprising reporters were answered but
by silent shake of the head. 1t was equally
impossible to ascertain whether Hanlon had
confessed his guilt or what he had for break
fast. The prisoners whose doors opened onto
the corridor, and who, if anybody is to be
benefited by this exhibition of the majesty OF
the law, might be looked upon az i'll need of
such a 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 estab-
lished 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 drunken
ness or sheer excess of his animal nature,
kills another as in any sort hero. We do not
care to hear whether he has "nerve" or not, or
what il 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 a melo-drama.
If our friends in Philadelphia regard hanging
as necessary to avenged outraged justice, and
not az terror to evil doors, why were the
press admitted at all Why not put the vic
tim quietly and secretly out of the way But
if capital punishment according to the old
arguments is a bug-a-boo to deter other men
from murder let us, 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, curslng multitude below
to learn their lesson. What that lesson is we
all of us know. A criminal who disappears
for life into apententiary loses prestige forever
among his fellows. His fate is more than ter
rible-it is disa9reeable to them, because it is
one of hard work and no glory. But the man
who shows his pluck to the last on the gal
lows is a hero to the youthful Jack Sheppards
who look on. The very class who are in
tended to be frightened by his fate are the
men who sing with admiring gusto of how
" the night before Larry was stretched he
played cards on his coffin, and when the drop
fell che 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, az we said, who
watch the gallows with such anxiety to know
how their fellows go off; and it 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 gamen