Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-29

during the last few days for tickets OF sd
mission 20 the jiil-7zrd The 10Th OF next
month, when the murderer Wilson Is 10 be
privately hanged, according 10 q recent law.
Sheriff Cannon has adop'ed a plan which
caves him from a point-blank refusal. h.
agrees TO Issue tickets to anybody who Will
promise 10 spring the trap or adjust the cap,
If called upon to do so. As yet NO one has
sgrsed, and consequenily no tickets have
b. en- or are likely TO be issued. An APPEAL
reporter who dropped into the sheriff IS office
yesterday, heard
NUMBER CT opinions
regarding the public policy Of private exc
curiops. A vieT of the gallow., either
from the inside or outside of the wall-, has
never before been refused, and there are a
very few who question the law. "Whst are
hangings for" asked one. "unless they are
TO make awful examples? And what does
the fact of hanging amount to. unless it can
be witnessed, IN all it's horrible details, by
the balance Of the community? / am in
favor of making the scaffold taller than
ever, and putting it 10 the middle OF The
public square, 20 that all may sse and take
warning. The very spirit OF capital punish
meut is destroyed by mixing it lake place
behind the scenes, "a IL were, Ii Is too
much like murder, that way, TOO. Besides
tnAt, q great many Will ISlusc ~ OctlCNc
that the hanging was actually done, simply
because there is so much secrecy about II.
Why, when Saady Mstthews was executed,
about yesr ago, grest many who could
not get to see the scsfold, persisted in be-
lieviDg there
"wAs NO HANGING,
and frightened the Victims wife nearly out
Of her wits. live in that neighborhood,
and L know che locked up the house and left
it for weeks, fearing Ssndy might come and
revenge himself upon her."
There is one good reason why executions
should not take place in public" said an
other. at deprsves The public taste and
hgrdens and brutalizes those who are wit
nes,es The community in this way suffers
more than il game. To become accustomed
to scenes of the kind ia TO view with indiff.r-
ehce other scenes where all the good blood
tia is 10 a man should rise to his heart and
prompt him 10 noble action. Oar BIS
feelings become psralyzed and noblest ssnti-
| ments deadensd."
why, you would rob the murderer OF the
mos glorious of all his privileges" said a
| listener. "Whst would he do if ne had no
opportunity TO tell the crowd he was going
STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN
| in a hamper basket. To BE- able to speak TO
10 every word he utier5 with the most pro-
| found attention, to know that his speech will
sc taken down in shorthand aud long hand,
and law-hand, and telegrsphed all over the
country, is a great consolation which you
. would rob him Of. Then think of the injury
you do 10 orthodoxy. Think how many
hardened sinners who grin at revivals aud
groau at csmp-meetipgs, get religion ana
| shout and are happy a. last. Think what a
great proof of Immortality it is 10 hear a
man in the very jaws of death positively
| declare that beyond the least shadow of
| doubt he is going direct to paradise; that he
sees the gates sjsr for him, and Is glad to go
at last TO rest. Think Of the good advice he
| gives TO the
VAST THRoNG
and think how effective it is, coming from a
| mao whose moments are numbered. All the
| muTderers do this Their grammar is little
bad sometimes, and their utterance choked
but thAy make themselves plainly under
stood on one point at least-they want all
their friends to meet them 10 the world be-
yond the trap. Surely you would not rob
them Of this last conso alton"
THAT reminds me of recent hanging in
| Texas, where the Law allows condem ne d
| murderer TO decide whether hts hang.
| ing shall take place in private or in pub
| lie. The sheriff erected the gsllows, and
| prepared fer a big crowd, taking it. fol
I granted the execution was TO be public Or
the morning OF the awful day The lawyer Of
the accused visited him in his cell, armed
with copy of the constitution of The State,
and made great flourish, telling the con,
demned that it was mis- privilege under that
| law to demand
PRIVATE EXECUTION.
and he would stand by him and see that he
got IL. That's mighty poor consolation,
the murderer said, and it doesn't come 10
good taste from you. / intend to be hanged
in rubic, like a man You get CUT"
One of those whom the reporter me
thought the county ought to Try 10 get ever
on the cost Of conviction. at is a pretty
heavy expense" he said, Ito carry N an
through all the courts-for he goes all
tbrough-snd l think tickets .hould be sold
with something extra for reserved seats
have seen several hsngiuss, and have hearc
hundreds of r any reasonable amount 10 ge
admission TO the jail-yare. The gate receipts
would pay all the costs aud leave handsome
Surplus. They do it in some States, and
think 1t is good law. 1. is chsritaelc tc
have executions ia public, because the CON
demued ID borne up
"BY THE EXCITEMENT"
THAT is no doubt true, Remarked youns
criminal practitioner, "but there eau be ne
doubt that private execuli ous are the best
| and think the greater portion of this COM.
mupity is In favor of hem. il furnishes pt
lasting example 10 hang a man in public
No one who sees it expects to be hung him
| self. The fact that man who murders viii
be hung is enough, and it is not necessary t.
see it done in order TO believe it. No nan o.
refinement viii witness a hanging, and thest
do TO! murder. Those who are present b,
choice are brutal, and such fearful seen,
| only makes the u mIre 80"
The Boss Interview.
Wandering cut upon The bluff, the reporter
found a man sitting in shady place, a kind
| thoughtful look on his face and his eyes ben
on the ripping water beneath. Bidding hin
a pleasant good evening, the reporter took
seat near by aud approached the subject b.
asking what he deemed very nice caution
question, but he might ss well have stumpeC
/ /, = L