New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-02
THE DEATH PENALTY,

THE DEATH PENALTY.
Governor Kellogg having signed the
warrants for the execution of two atrocious
murderers, and having in contemplation,
providing no extenuating circumstances
are shown, the signing of four more, most
strenuous efforts are made to save the
forfeited lives of these outcasts.
The legal way to secure remission of
the death penalty, or the modification of a
less severe sentence, is to obtain the ap-
proval of the judge and district attorney
who tried the case, and recommendation
from majority of the jury who convicted
the criminal This is not prescribed by
statute, but it commends itself to common
sense and common law, under which our
criminal proceedings are conducted, has
been described as the concentrated result
of centuries of common sense.
But criminals, especially those who
have been convicted, seek other means of
relief, and rely, in general, on sympathy.
Those in this State now deserving of hang
ing are no exception. Their friends have
been working hard for them. There is
no law to save them, no common sense in
their favor and no one who knows the
circumstances of their crimes will say
word for them. Therefore the emotions
are called in, and such representations
have been made that deputation of cler-
gymen have called on Governor Kellogg
at his house and solicited the remission of
the death penalty in all cases, but were
most solicitous in the case of Coleman.
This man killed his room mate and chum,
and afterhe had given the first wound,
which would inevitably have proved NOR
tai, walked around his PROSTATE writhing
victim and emptied at each step another
chamber of his revolver, to the last shot.
They also asked clemency for the Nichol-
sons, who enticed poor peddler into their
clutches, killed him for his poor pack
and scapty funds, and afterward hacked
his body to pieces, the effects being found
in their possession. The adulterous
couple in the parish of Ouachita, who
together killed the husband of one, that
they might indulge in illicit love, and to-
gether concealed the body under logs in
the bayou, that mortal eyes might not see
the horrid ak wounds in the head, were
also pleaded for by this delegation.
Abolish the death penalty was their argu-
ment. How these charitable devotees of
religion reconcile their conduct with law
and the protection of society is matter
between them and their God.
1t reminds one of a celebrated case in
an Eastern State in which memory and
tradition must serve, as dates are not at
hand. One York, negro of immense
physical proportions, committed a muir
der SO foul that consideration for the
crime overstepped the bounds of repul-
sion and aroused sympathy Like Jesse
Pomeroy OF our latter day, it was easy to
find those who believed so wicked man
could be reformed, and, by namby-pam-
by arguments, the soft-hearted Cover
nor was induced to commute the death
sentence to imprisonment for life. In
prison the man was guarded as best the
keepers could. They and the prisoners
were afraid of him. Silence is the rule,
though daily intercourse in the shops and
yards prevents the demoralizing effects
of the solitary confinement of Pennsyl-
vania. For two years the man
was quiet; then, without warning,
he raised his manacled herculean wrists
and smote tie convict beside him, to
whom he had never spoken, and who
could have done him no injury, to the
death. This was wickedness in the alb
stract, and as such, to be studied. All
the sentiment.lists of the Commonwealth,
Wendell Phillips at the head, besieged
the Governor, and the result was some
extra work, some severe confinement,
some deprivation of privileges for York.
and things went on the same as ever. In
few years this remarkable study for
philanthropists killed keeper without
any cause or without any chance for an es-
cape. He only did it for the sake of kill
ing. The old pleaders came out in force
once more, and York was not hanged.
But he killed no more men. How it was
avoided, the absence of records prevent
being shown. .l.. s.-
But here to-day in Louisiana, where the
first essential of the constitution is the
least regarded, are clergymen seeking the
release of men convicted of the most
heinous of crimes. Two men murdered a
man for money, man and a woman COM
mitted murder that they might not be dis
turbed in adultery, the murders of the
others are characterized by an utter lack
of humanity. Do these clergymen COM
mend their motives?