Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

The trial of Stokes, for the murder
ofFisk, in New York, resulted IN 4
verdict ofguiIty of murder in the first
degree, and on Monday, the 9th inst.
he was sentenced to be hanged on the
2Sth of February next. The result of
this trial is somewhat contrary to the
expectationSof the public generally.
Much has been said of its moral effect
on the society of the land, and many
are free in expressing the hope that no
mercy will be shown the condemned
man, but that the sentence Of the
court may be vigorously carried out.
While We can offer no excuse for the
crime, We question the wisdom of the
sentence, and believe that if Stokes is
executed it will be done more rs q
propitiatory offering to the demands
Of public sentiment and the press,
than for any other reason.
The time of his trial has been most
unfortunate for Stokes, for just now the
city of New York is undergoing one OF
those periodical paroxysms of virtue
which occasionally visit every commune
ty, and the voice Of the people is cry
ing out for some victim of whom to
make au example. The responsibility
of sending into the presence of his
Maker fcllOw-being, by act of VIC
lence, is one which should be well con.
sidered by communities and govern
ment, as we'll as individuals, and add
ing to the already long list of New
York City crimes that of judicial muir
der fails to commend itself to our ap
prevail. That Fisk came to his dealt
by the hand of Stokes there is NJ
doubt, and the verdict of the jury ha!
declared that it was a willful and de
, liberate act. OF the latter proposition
there is no doubt, but in any event tn,
murder of Stokes by the State will nei
ther reform him nor restore Fisk, bu
will only place the community upon al
!, equal footing with the former. Wha
f influences may have led to the verde
returned none can tell. Possibly tn
, huc-and-cry, raised Of late upon thi
, question, has led to this result and
may have been the fact that in fndin
their verdict the jury in this case hav
g been influenced more by their desire @
, conforming to the demands of publ
f sentiment than they should hav,
$ been, and that complete justice ma
4 not have been done.
While we have no wish that the OF
, fender should go UNPUBLISHED, we d
, confess a desire that the divine attr
8 buto of mercy may he shown by tn
Governor of New York, and the sci
! tence of the unfortunate man may
f committed.
G That, the death penalty should eve
9 be inflicted is horrible reflection. w
: look upon it as a relic of barbarism
and predict the day not far distar
e when it will assume its proper plac
O in the category of by-gonc wrong.
along with the stories of the burnin
G of witches and the inquisitorial racl
d More hopefully do we hook for thu
o time, as we believe the world advancin
in civilization and Christianization, an
J.. as we view the mighty strides toward
r. this end since that time not, long pas
/ when even the crime of petit larcen
# or poaching was punished by dealt
+. The object of punishment is not as
# means of vengeance for the wrong don,
!, but as q means of reformation an
prevention. To accomplish these enc
:, are there not other and better ways
:, the command of the people, whereof
the shedding of human blood, Otter
10 times of innocent persons, may /
; safely avoided?