St. Landry democrat., 1879-06-21
False sympathy fOr the Mur-
GeFeF.
New Orleans Picav1Ine. I

lNG" orleans HlCayENe.
How best to prevent the wiIlful des-
truction of human life has been the
subject Of much thought by eminent
men in State councils, the theme Of
discussions on the platform, in the
pulpit, and through the medium of the
public press: The terrible crime of
murder is of so frequent occurrences
that except in peculiar cases it eXcites
no special wonder. The reports of such
crimes come with the news Of the day,
and would be soon ont of mind were 1t
not for efforts made by the accused to
escape punishment. The journals OF
the North and West are laden with
sickenlng accounts of tragedies, ana
with them come reports of the laws
delay, petitions for pardon, special
pleadings in justification OF the otfenses
aud sympathy for the criminals. Covert
Bennett and Jennie Smith, OF Jersey
City, have been sentenced to be hanged
for the murder Of an innocent man:
They ask for Il new trial on a plea OF
error, and failing in that hope for favor
at the hands OF Board OF IArdons.
The only news that comes from the
red-handed Currie, in Texas, is that
there is no immediate prospect or his
being tried for the murder OF a clever
actor who only offended a brute by. re-
senting an insult to a lady. Curlle Is
as comfortable as possible i'll town
where ROthschild, who murdered q WO-
man years ago in cold blood, Is yet un-
hung, unsentenced. In Maryland the
trial of Miss Duer, for the murder OF
her girl friend, is in progress, with the
prospect of proving that the shot OF
Miss Duer's pistol did not cause Miss
Hearne's death so much as did the drugs
administered for her relief Suppose 1t
is shown that the girl died from the
effects of choral, there remains the
terrible fact that IL young woman, r.
good circumstances, could arm herself
with a deadly weapon, and without
reasonable, or no prOyoCatl0n, attempt
to take the life of her best friend. he
intent to commit murder was there, III
the criminals heart. aud act, though the
druggists, may have completed lne
work. The peace and safety OF society
demands that the guilty should be
punished, and az the law directs. Laws
concerning murder Fre just. In most
counties they decree life fdr 3 llfe.. A
person who would commit murder has
certainly 40 right to liberty. Public
opinion should aid in the execution Of
law. And yet, in most cases OF murder,
there is sentiment of morbid sympa-
thy pleading the cause of those WI Il
have stained their hands with innocenr
blood. 1t has given flowers, and even
kisses, from strangers to nurderers in
condemned cells, in cases where such
conditions as iluprisonments have been
reached. 1T gives the boy PomerOy
nice books and good things to eat. 1t
prevails upon tender-hearted Judges
and Governors TO give the lightest
punishment possible, and to unloose
chains and bars as soon as may be.
Humanity is natural and good ; but
humanity Is often mistaken. Those
who have been foui!y murdered should
not be forgotten and those who have
been bereaved and made to suffer by
the crimes of others deserve some con
sideration. The murderer is Il coward.
He fears imprisonment, and fears to die.
Let it he made certain that thoseC>NiIo
attempt to take life shall be forever
deprived OF liberty, and that those who
kill shall be put to death by ,fultllln,opt
of the provisions of law, and with the
approval Of public opinion, and there
will be fewer OF the great crimes which
disgrace humanity. 4 perfect civl'iza-
ton cannot exist where criminals are
not fully punished. Human life, s1iould
not be held cheaply. Il must be pro-
tected.