The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-04

OF the State. IF these appeals are disregarded,
as In recent cases, popular indignation is ex-
cited against the gubernatorial power, and the
prisoner receives the deepest commiseration
and sympathy. Such is fair specimen of
the administration of justice in murder cases
in this city. The murderer enlists q host Of
advocates and sympathizers, and his victim is
entirely forgotten.
The effect of such q course on depraved
minds in the community cannot be otherwise
than disastrous Boys and men, in whose
hearts the demon may gain admittance, come
to the conclusion that wilful murder is the
most respectable item on the list of crime.
1t is not confined to what we term the
dangerous classes, bat even gentlemen may
indulge in it without disgrace. OF course,
no gentleman will be found breaking
into another PERSONS house at night or
snatching watch or pocketbook from some
passer by. These are vulgar crimes which
are visited with instantaneous punishment.
But in quarrel, or laboring under some fam
cied insult, the gentleman draws his revolver
and avenges his honor by blowing out the
other party brains. There is halo around
murderer's head in the morbid sentimentality
that is too much in vogue at the present day.
The wheels Of justice are particularly sluggish
in his case, and the gallows is too remote
contingency for immediate fear.
What is the remedy then, against this
canker-worm which is eating its way into the
bowels of our social system? Take away the
romance and responsibility of murder, and
let long rope and short shrift follow the
commission of such crime. In Europe
human life is held in such sacred
esteem that q murderer will find
it difficult to find an advocate in
the community. Here, unhappily, it is
quite the opposite, and the starving pilferer
of loaf Of bread is regarded with much
more adherence by depraved minds than the
gentlemanly assassin. Considerations of
family connections and previous good conduct
are entirely foreign to the commission of the
greatest Of all crimes Stolen goods may be re-
covered, SANDER may be atoned for by retraction
and injuries to person can be, to some extent,
redressed But the life which the Creator
has given to man, once taken by the assassin's
hand, can never be returned The hasty
word followed by the fatal blow belongs
to state Of society which our boosted
civilization should not admit. The evil is
widespread and the remedy should be sharp
and decisive. We hear Of boys fourishing
revolvers in the face of their teacher at school,
and that deadly weapon has become neces-
sary adornment to the person. It is serious
subject, and the awful illustration just afforded
us should be the means of inaugurating
speedy and thorough reform. Let MUIR
der be considered in the eye Of the
law, not theoretically, but practically
also, the most heinous Of crimes, and let its
punishment be swift and sure, and the list of
tragedies in this city will soon come to
an end Executions which take place years
after the commission of the crime do not
fully serve the purpose for which they
are designed. The murderer must follow his
victim to the grave at no distant date, SO that
the crime and its punishment may be con-
sidered at the same time in the public mind
Then. and only then, will murder be regarded
by all in its true light and life will become of
more value in the eyes Of ruffans and ''gen-
tlemen"