The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-28
MONDAY. JUNE %. 1876.
THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW.

Suffered the extreme penalty OF the law.
1Jew England, with all her boosted SUPERB
GRITTY in religion, morals, civilization and
Education, witnessed three of these execu-
lions the condemned all dying protesting
their innocence of the alleged crimes for
which they suffered. James II. Costley
was executed at Dedham, Massachusetts,,
charged with the murder of one Julia
Hawkes. reputed to be his mistress and
the dull, stolid, superstitious Louis Wag-
ner, the Isle of Shoals murderer, and John
). Gordon, the triple assassin OF Thorn
,like, at Thomaston, Maine. While at the
south, three other men, stupid, ignorant,
brutal blacks, also paid the penalty OF
1her crimes, two al Charleston, South
s'arolna, and one at Atlanta, Georgia.
Altogether it was CHASTITY day, and one
long to be remembered, even without the
accessories of those othei5 men still on trial
for their lives or regulations, those already
condemned and awaiting their violent de-
parture hence, or those others hanging on
The ragged edge of despair-the trial over,
but still waiting Tor the verdict.
These all were supposed to illustrate the
majesty of the law and the certainty that
its telrars will be invoked on the violators
thereof. Surely its tt7r0rs were invoked,
but with how much or how little of males
ty! The only execution of the sentence of
the law that was carried out decently and
in order was that of Costley yet,ln his case,
the sheriff and eXecutioner was taken from
q bed tf sickness, carrivl to the gallows
in the arms Of his depu les and, reclining
in an easy chair, touched the fatal spring
that launched the eodemned man into
eternity. Costley died protesting his in
nocence but with the kindest wishes fer
- the Just and righteous laws of the COM
"::monwealth and the executors of the
"same" 1t may have been rare and
commendable instance of christian charity,
for one claiming that lie was about 10 lie
unjusty put TO death, with his last breath,
to bless the laws which condemned him and
utter kind wishes fer Tie men who were TO
judicially murder him-if he told the truth
but we fail to see the righteousness or
majesty of that law which required an en-
feebled ard invalid officer to arise from a
sick bed and be carried to the foot of the
gallows that he might terminate the exist
ence Of a fellow mortal or, If the law did
If who could so glory in such a task as to-
lay aside physical discomforts and over
come physical disability-but we presume
that the willing spirit was more potent
than the weak flesh.
We go to Maine ind find Wagner step
ping into eternity all unprepared for the
great change, being assured that an anony-
nous letter which he wore on his breast
would shield him frcm mortal harm. lie
protests his innocence and illustrates the
fearful effect of the law into rfering with
the due and prompt execution of the Law.
Why does he go hence unrepentant, un.
prepared? Why his superstitious belief
that mortals could not terminate his life ?
Once his day of execution had been fixed
and, with that letter worn on his breast,
the courts had interfercd in his behalf and
stayed the execution. That stay operated,
also, TO stay the work of repentance and to
build up that superstitious faith in piece
of paper. Oh the majesty of that lsw
which prevents reconciliation with God ;
that rot only fosters, but creates u blind,
idolairous superstition
How with the other Maine murderer :?
The details are too sickening for recital
1t is enough to say that, unable to endure
the horrors of his situation, longer to con-
template his terrible doom, ho attempted
suicide--the means therefor having been
left within his reach either by the careless
ness OF connivance of his keepers. The
wound was pronounced fatal, but when
the sheriff was informed of the fact, he
directed that the arrangements for the ex-
ecution should be "hurred up"
The proposed religious services were
abridged and took place 10 the cell
of the condemned man instead of the
the chapel, because the man would not be
able to ''s,and up through the exercises
or survive until their close if of the GUS
tomary length. Limp, well nigh lifeless
and gasping almost his last BREATH he was
borne to the gallows, the moose hastily
placed around his neck, the fatal trap was
sprung, and the majesty of the law was
indicated That sheriff was not to be
deprived of his laurels-two executions in
single day and from the same gallows
are not common occurrences in the history
of crimes or in the liyes of the executors OF
the law, and little common humanity was
being the chef actor in such a scene
Other officers may envy the Maine sheriff
his glorious achievement, and the majesty
OF the law may have been indicated by
such indecent haste, but how much respect
may be inspired for such laws and for thei
executors, when 1t is necessary in order L
vindicate the one, or show the efficiency o.
the other, to deprive an unconscious man
criminal though he may have been, of ,
few seconds of life we will leave to other
to determine.
At the south, tie executions were con
Quoted with decency and order so far as tn
officers of the law were concerned, but tn,
solemnity of the occasions was entirely dc
stroyed, civilization and religion were dis
graced, and the law deprived of all save it
terrors by the attendant scenes. The Char
lesion murderers had been thrice sentenced
the acknowledgements once interfering
and the sheriff, at another time, refusing t
execute the sentence on account of the a
legged illegality of the lieutenant governor