The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-21
THELoWER OHIO.
Madison-A Horrible Crime
Observation-Disclosures.
tai Punishment.

FEBRuARY ~, 1873.
Correspondents IntelllSeneer.
Madison, Indiana, last week had the
excitement incidental to the execution
Of murderer. 1t is remarkable that
although II is an old town, q case Of cap,
ital puniahment never had occurred there
before. In this instance 1t was a sur.
prise to the people. The notion has been
current in the State, that Governor Viii
liams is opposed to capital punishment,
and 1t was expected that this criminal
would go to the penitentiary instead OF
the gallows. Besides, the case had been
carried before the Supreme Court and it
was not decided until about twenty
four hours before the execution. The
governor could not interfere except
on petitions which were not obtained.
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
Rarely, however, has capital punish
ment been inflicted with more uni.
versal appreciation. 1 will not blacken
your pages with the details Of the crime.
A mere outline will suffice. The sole oh.
ject Of the murder was money. There was
no proyocation whatever, and indeed no
reason why the man who was slaughtered
should have been the victim rather than
any other persop, except that be furnish
ed the best opportunity. The crime was
most deliberate. According to his con-
fession, made just before death, the mur.
derer formed his purpose nine months
before hand. His victim was beguiled
from Indianapolis to the extreme south
ern part Of the State, under the pretence
OF purchase Of land from him. Then he
was led about the country for two or
three days with the view Of putting him
ont Of the way, Last he was trudged on
foot until night came on, and worn out
he went with his murderer into lonely
church, where he laid himself down in the
darkness to rest, and fell asleep. There,
with piece OF iron which his murderer
had been carrying for the purpose, he was
slaughtered. Then, TO cover the
crime, the church was set on fire, and the
body left 70 consume in the flames.
RErRtBuTIoy.
But the old saying proved to be true,
Murder will outn The church did not
burn down. The body was found. When
the inquest was held nobody at first rec
oguized the dead, for he was stranger.
But the murderer was 30 confident that
he appeared at the inquest. Then IL was
remembered that he had recently been
seen in the company OF such a man. One
link after another was discovered until
the chain Of evidence was complete, and
be was tried, convicted, and within
three months after the crime was hanged.
Had he stayed away from the inquest he
might have escaped detection. There was
can OF coal oil in the church. Had he
used it the church would have been con-
sumed and with it the trace OF his crime.
But mems sins do fad them out. Retri.
button is not always so swift as in this
case, yet it is sure in the end. As Anne
of Austria once said to Richelieu. my
Lord Cardinal, God does moi pay al he end
Of rsry tCssk, but he pays :"
HIS DEATH.
It has become so customary to ridicule
the part which religious people, and es-
pecially ministers, take at the execution
Of criminals, that want to say that in
this case nothing was donewhich is open to
such treatment. When the news came that
the Supreme Court had decided against
him and that he must die the next day,
this criminal broke down entirely. He
had previously confessed his crime TO
one or two persons, but as a secret. He
now agreed that bis confession should be
made public after his death. He seemed
10 be anxious to make his peace with
God. Hisspiritual advisers did all they
could 10 help him. But although they
we're not without some reason to hope for
the best, they did not tell him or the pub
lie that he was sure to go to heaven.
They simply committed him to the in
finite mercy OF God in Christ.
How did this man descend to such an
end? Not by single step. Il is the old
story. In early life he was without the
advantage OF careful parental training
By and BY he became a petty thief. He
formed the habit OF gambling; and
strong drink gave helping hand. He
did not seem to be, in some respects, oil
the lowest order Of humanity. Indeed he
has relations who are among the best
people in the community where they re.
side. But gradually he went down to
such crime and such death.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Ibelieve 10 capital punishment, as the
penalty due for certain offenses. Justice
mot the mere safety OF society or the
possible reformation Of the criminal-is
the FIRST thing 10 be satisfied. And JUS
tice, in the case OF deliberate murder, de.
mands the death OF the murderer as the
most suitable and only adequate punish.
ment. There once was too much capital
punishment. II was inflicted for minor
otfenses and for imaginary crimes. But
in these days the pendulum has swung 70
the other extreme. The bosh OF q feeble
sentimentalism assumes that the frat OBJ,
Iject OF the penalty Of the law should
be the reformation Of the crimi-
nal, or the safety Of society. And
no II abolishes the galloWs so far as 1t has
opportunity. And when il tlooks beyond
the present life it aays that there either
| Is no place OF suffering there for the
wicked or that it is u mere school OF
reform. Let such notions generally pre-
vail and the vertebrate column isg gone
from the tone Of society "a to the real
nature Of wrong.doing. II is wonderful
however, how case OF righteous hang,
ing like that which l have described
tones up the sentiment Of the people or
this whole subject. The fundamental
ideas OF justice reaasert themselves.
| WEsrwARD.
Railroad: Matters.
r,t. on A. a.. .nnn.I