Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-02-26
To the Editor OF The Mexico Ledger:

hShsN >sS>
MEXICO, Mo-, February 2S.-It
seems, now, that young kilgore 6
will be hanged on the 5th prox, and
the remaining practical question is,
"wHERE shall the execution occur?"
That it should be within the Jail, and
ENTIRELY PRIVATE. no thoughtful
citizen doubts yet, it seems to be
understood, that the sheriff, who has
charge of the matter, insists that the
execution must be public, and pro-
poses that it shall occur on the public
park, and in harmony with such pur-
pose, we already hear that SPECIAL
trains are to be run on all the rail-
roads, at reduced rates, to accom-
modate those who wish to attend
such great MORAL SHOWi
For the first time in the history of
the United States, it is now proposed
to have a PUBLIC execution in the
very heart of a city of six thousand
people-within a stones throw of
banks, stores, pOst-otfice, churches,
school houses, and all the leading
hotels, and under the shadow Of many
dwelling houses. OF course, the
place of execution will be the center
Of attraction, around which the crowd
in attendance will gather and remain
during the day a crowd, very large
percentage of which, will consist of
drunkards, gamblers, ex-convicts,
thieves, robbers, thugs, cracksmen,
cut-throats, burglars, in~cendiaries,
from Chicago, Kansas City, st. Louis,
and intermediate points, who will
take advantage of the occasion to
come to the city to ply their respec-
tive trades and business.
Such a crowd, concentrated in the
city on such an occasion, surging be-
tween dramshOps, will be a magazine
Of IMMORAL dynamite, which an ex-
ira glass of whisky or all angry word
or blow may explode, leaving only
devastation and ruin. No moneycd
institution will be safe from robbery,
no dwelling house from plumber, no
store from c~oniia9ration. A mere
fist fight may develop into a riot of
large proportion, and which, without
power to control it, may lay waste
half the town, and for the loss Of
of which, the city may be compelled
to pay.
There is no need, no propriety, no
excuse, no apology, for selecting such
locality for the execution. We do
not desire that our BOYS and girls at
tending school, should be compelled
to fight their way through the crowd,
d. to see such execution. Ladies,
going to and from the p~ost-otiice, or
the stores, neither desire to have an
execution thrust upon their vision,
or to pass through a surging crowd
, of half-drunkcn outlaws, and they
should not be so compelled. The eX-
ecution should not be within the city
' limits, if it must be public. and if the
purpose is persisted in to have a pub
lie execution, the city council should
see to it tina ii should not occur upon
territory over which it has iuris.
diction.
\ place should be selected beyond
the city limits i'll some retired spot,
where the family of no citizen will be
: annoyed, where no one. who does not
h desire to, shall be compelled tC
hear and see the dis.racctul cXhibi.
!, ton. and which, if done, will prevent
the crowd from concentrating in the
city draw it entirely away from The
J centres of population, trade anO
social activity, and render the person
t and property of the citizen compare.
c lively safe.
Men are not hung for public enter
tainmcnt; they are not executed Il
> make a holiday, and when the ext
gcncv of enforcement of the law com
y pcls an execution, i'll which a neck i:
Il broken or throat choked, common
decency and caution requires it to b,
e done in some waste place away from
C the haunts of men, especially o
ladies and children; and, if public
and witnessed by crowds, where, i
=, these crowds become unmanageable
they will not, nor cannot rob banks
burn stores, court houses. churches
. and school houses. CITIZEN.