The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-27
Should Criminals be Puhpsdy hAe'''0u

This question has bes1of 'r recent executions
eentioR oy tne accodhs co2hs from different parts OF
%nlen nave Tsac9eflure ascI9flure to convict and punlsh
t the state; I9Sthe various grades of murder
eno:e gaaesfpast az six or seven years undoubtedly
curing out great decentralization and contempt
wo9y s.Se law. And unquestionably vigorous
eH impartial execution of the law against
That class of criminals will be required TO re-
store things to their normal condition.; Weare
of the opinion, however, that the public execu-
tiou of criminals does not assist IN accomplish
ing this end, but, on the contrary, both dl-
rectlv and indirectly, retards its accomplish
ment. -.
We are aware that in stating this opinion we
run counter to the opinions Of many excellent
people, and it is only because we have clear
conviction that the present mode OF executing
criminals is demoralizing in the extreme tnae
we venture to say anything on the subject :,
Without referring to experience at ali'
we think that it might be shown, from con
sideration of the nature OF mankind, thaI the
classes who are expected to be awed ana re-
strained bv the public execution of criminals
are really affected in quite the opposite way.
The punishment by death of criminals IS Justl-
fed on the ground that it is necessary to the
nrotection of society. This protection Is Sc
cured, first, by the removal of one who has
proved himself to be dangerous to the rest OF
the community, and, secondly, by the deterrent 7
influence of his punishment upon others OF
like tendencies. If the element OF revenge
upon the murderer is allowed to enter into
the question at all, surely his private and swift
execution will more certainly serve that pur-
pose than will the parade and excitement OF a a
bubble execution. We think, however, that 1t
viii be denied that the law which takes the life
of the criminal is based upon feeling of re-
venpe. The question resolves itself, then, into
one for the protection of society merely. Ii, as
we have already stated, this protection is Sc
cured by the removal by death of the criminal,
it can make but little difference whether his
death is public or private.
But we conceive that to secure the deterrent
influence of the death of the criminal upon
persons of like tendencies, it is OF the utmost
| smportance that everything which conceals or
dimipishes, in the minds Of those sought to be
influenced, the criminality of the act for which
he suffers should be carefully eliminated from
| the scene. The more ignorant and degraded
the people are the more likely they are to be
swayed by passion and feeling rather than
Judgment. In the midnight murder 1t IS not
the death of the individual that appalls US so
much as the sudden and mysterious swlttness
| with which death comes upon him. 80 we
think that If it were possible to conduct the
execntion of criminals in absolute privacy, the
deterrent effect upon the minds of the people
at large would be infinitely greater and more
appalling than as now conducted. We are
aware that absolute privacy cannot be secured,
but certainly comparative privacy may be-; and
the scenes that were witnessed recently at
Orangeburg and Beaufort, and more recently
| at Camden. may be avoided.
Is it possible for any one think that the ex-
ecution of Josh Fraser, on Friday last in the
town of Camden, in the presence of six thousand
persons, as described by the reporters, had the
slightest deterrent influence upon persons with
similar temptations or tendencies to his own !
He acknowledged having killed Cooper, and ne
also confessed the murder of his wlfe's child
and negro woman in Camden. He also &C.
knowledged having set fire to gin houses, mills
etc. He said he was ready to meet death, as ne
had been aoashed in the blood Of his Saviour, and
feared no harm to his sout "Ihe wsSdest re-
Iiqious enthusiasm prevailed"
| It seems to US that if the ingenuity OF man
had been deliberately set to work for the pur'
pose, it could not have invented spectacle
better calculated to plant the seeds OF ruin IN
the minds of the six thousand people there
assembled than the one described above.
| A blasphemer hypocrite and murderer borne
up to heaven by the shouts of an excited crowd
of religious enthusiasts is not spectacle likely
to impress men of his own class with the ex-
ceeding siufulness of sin. To US the spectacle
is disgusting and frightful. And if, as we be-
lieve is the case, there is no law on the statute
book regulating the execution of criminals, we
trust that one may speedily be passed that will
prevent in the future such terrible exhibitions
Of human deprayity and fanaticism.-U Union.
Herald.