Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-05-10

CONTRAST BETWEEN THE PAST AND TUE PRESENT
SOME VIVID RECORDS OF HANGING IN BY-ooNE
DAYs-A CORRESPONDENTS REcoILEcrIoNs.
1t is really surprising to those Of the present
century to learn for what comparatively light
and trivial offences capital punishment in the
oldon time was inflicted. A correspondent gives
the following incidents;
While John Hancock was Governor Of the
Commonwealth, Rachel Whall was hung in Bos-
ton for highway robbery. Her offence con-
sisted in tWiching from the hands of another fe-
male bonnet worth perhaps seventy-hve cents,
and running of with Il. / mention this not in
disparagement of the Governor. He, ldoubtless,
acted upon 9 sense of duty, thinking it best for
the community that the laws Of the land. how
ever frghtfully severe, while they were the
laws, should be executed.
A lad Of eighteen years was hung in Salem for
arson during the administration Of Governor
Strong similar appeals in his favor being con-
sidered and overruled. Yet the intelligence and
humanity, alike of the executive and the coun-
Gil, notwithstanding the result arrived at, was
unquestionable. Within the same period gen.
tleman saw girl seventeen years of age hung
in London for stealing silver cream pitcher.
Edward Vail Brown was hung in Boston for bur-
glary committed In the house Of Captain Osias
Goodwin, in Charter street and stealing there
from sundry articles.
Ionce owned a set of the "old Bailey Trials"
(1785 to 1925, embraced in series of, perhaps.
hfty-eight quarto volumes. The earliest OF the
volumes contain the tails of the trial OF the
unfortunate DR.. Dodd, for forgery, whose touch
ing appeals for mercy here recorded were fruit
leesly enforced by the splendid eloquence Of
johnson. In q later volume, long after the COM
mencement Of the present century, eight sepa-
rate capital convictions are recorded as one days
job Of a siugle tribunal, the culprits being all
boys and girls between the ages Of ten and ff-
teen, and their offences petty thefts.
One case l remember OF peculiar judicial
atrocity. A young girl, in her eighteenth year,
was indicted for stealing roll OF ribbon, worth
three shillIngs. The prosecutors evidence was
to this effect: "The prisoner came into my shop
and purchased some ribbons. IpersonAlly knew
her, and was on the most intimate terms with
her. When she left, accompanied her and Of
fered her my arm, which she accepted. We
conversed together. As we reached the corner
Of street, leading to the Bow street Office,
turned toward it. She said she was going in an
other direction, and babe me Good morning
No! you are coming with me / saw you steal
piece of ribbon. She immediately implored
me for Gods sake to overlook it. and restored
TO me the article. said to her that had lost
many articles in this way, and was resolved to
make an example-I WAS determined to have her
life." And he got it.
/ can never forget how my blood boiled ss
read the evidence Of this cold-hearted wretch.
In view Of the Judgment of mercful God, far
rather, it seemed to me, would have been in the
place OF that poor frail erring girl on the scaff
old. than in the place Of her heartless accuser.
ross from the perusal Of these volumes horror
struck with the continuous record OF inconceiva-
BILE cruelties.
1t Appeals to me that the seventy thousand
hAngings in the reign OF Henry VIII were match
ed by an equally long list Of persons condemned
to be hanged in the reign Of George Ill. Since
that time much has been done by Romily, Breug-
ham, Msckintosh and Sidney Smith, and as much
perhaps more, by kindred phianthropists on this
side Of the Atlantic.-C Concord (N HI Patriot