The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-09
Execute the Law As 1t Is.
NEW YORK, March 8, 1873.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
have read with pleasure your straightforward
and selfcommending editorials in yesterdays
HERALD on the Foster case. / am opposed to
capital punishment-do not believe in 1t or its eff
cacy-but SO long as a law remains on the statute
book say it should be carried out or Immediately
erased therefrom. 1t s said that Foster had no
intention of killing Mr.. Putnam. IL might with
equal truth and more justice be said that the poor
devil of a wretch who had been brought up in
crime and AFFECT poverty and shut out from all
the benefits of an education to teach him the dill
ference between right and wrong, but who was so
unfortunately prophetic as 10 remark that Hang
ing is played out in New York. !" Jack Reynolds, had
no intention OF killing his VICTIM When COM
pare the two cases of Foster and Reynolds, feel
compelled to say that II the former escapes the
galows-and feel sorrow and pity for him, so that
II my feelings alone spoke and had the power
would commute his sentence-then Jack REYNOLDS
was murdered. PERCY WE'RE LEARNEVER.
Project OF a Direct Appeal from the Law
Abiding Community.
New YORK, March 8, 1873.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The position taken by you in the Foster case has
made very many friends for you-nrmer and more
steadfast friends viii you allow me to make
suggestion, which, II made by you In your way of
quitting things, will cause such action as will
astonish our hesitating Governor The suggestion
springs from an action just finished In a publishing
establishment. Four Of It's occupants (out of ive
have signed petition and sent 1t to the Governor,
praying that ne will not interfere In cases that
have been as conclusvely and thoroughly set
tied by due process Of law as that of "Foster,
the car hook murderer" 1t occurs to me that II
you will make an editorial appeal to the law-loving
citizens OF this city to at once write Tor you might
give them form for it) to the Governor, getting
their neighbors to sign II possible but sending
their own names at once, short but pointed
appeal for justice, there would be such a Hood Of
letters poured upon His Excellency as would de-
termine him to give US a taste Of law for once.
You can do this, and you can prove once more the
loving journal exerts over the people. This man.
ner OF seeking to control executive action in favor
OF law and justice Is, perhaps, newt viii GER
tainly seem novel to many-but yen can influence
u, and probably you only. Hoping that will take
the matter in hand, am. very truly, f. W.
What Moral Men VIII be Forced 20 DO.
NEW YORK, March 8, 1873.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
VIII you permit me to add my need ofpraise to the
course OF the NEW YORK HERALD in regard to Eos.
ter the murderer and to say that II he escapes the
gallows, the State thereby gives license to the
roughs OF tins city, and their name Is legion to in.
suit with IMMUNITY, any lady in the cars or else
where, and II perchance she should have q gentle
man escort, and he should resent such Insult. the
State authorizes the rowdy to KILL II he so chOosesf
III he escapes shall feel II incumbent upon me TO
go at all times armed, and assure you that any
insult offered to me or NINE will be resented In
manner to forestall any violence TO myself But
then probably the law which justines and upholds
punishment the man who protects himself The
CQQTts. the laws and legal talent al seem to be