Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-26

From your editorial columns OF the 18th
INST. clip the following:
WHAT Is TO BE DONE ABOUT IT?
THE excessive prevalence Of violence and
murder is matter OF general comment. 1t
is not confined TO one locality but every
section sends up the same story Of riot, de-
bauchery and the pistol.
In our own State We have had more of
il then usual -Four or five cases of man
slaughter have occurred within the last
month. An attempt To murder an entire
family was made last week
This is truly an important inquiry. There
is no doubt that crime-and that too Of the
higher and more brutal grade-is on the
increase all over the country. There is
much, very much, in this tact to cause
calm reelection by all law-loying and law
abiding citizens. There must be some
cause, some reason for this unwholesOme
state OF affairs. The important thing TO
find out in this matter is, the reasOn-the
cause for this unfortunate condition of
things. If the cause, the reason for the
thing can be discovered, remedy can
quickly and quite easily be applied. Now,
therefore, what is the cause, the reason for
the increase of crime This is the ques-
ton ali gObN anu law 'dDluluS pep SuOuiu
proceed at once 10 try and 81 I've.
Can il be the lack of laws - properly
punish criminals | think not, for We
have laws 10 punish almost q | manner of
crime. Can il be because these Laws are
not enforced by our courts and jurieS? |
think not altogether 50, for whilst some OF
the guilty do escape, nine-tenths of those
charged with crime, who are really guilty
according to the evidence, are so adj Judged
by the courts and jurieS of the country. 1t
is but natural some guilty should escape
punishment, for We must not expect per
lection in any human system. Possibly
there might be some improvement made in
our criminal laws. In this State We have a
statute in regard to the punishment for one
found guilty in the first degree which
think ought to be amended. | mean the
statute allowing the Jury to Tx either
Il, ath or imprisonment for life
FIR ore adjudged guilty of murder in
tie first degree. To constitute murder
n the first d,gree, the killing must be de-
hn,rate. wilful and premeditated. When
ever jury is compelled, under their oaths,
T. rOnOunce q fellOwman guilty of muir
der iU the first degree, | think that man
oUgh, not 10 live. But, as 10 whether this
statute ought to be amended in this regard
there are two sides. Those who favor the
law a. it now is say, that if the jury is pro-
h bited from fixing the penalty to confne-
mcnt or life great many men will escape
altogether, because OF the dislike OF so
many now a. days to iniliCt the death pen.
atty. | admit there is good deal of force in
this position, but still do not believe il is
the correct one to take. No man is tit to
live who has malice enough in his heart to
deliberately, wilfully and with premedita-
ton take the life of fellow being without
cause or provoCation. In my opinion the
cause for the alarming increase OF crime, IS
as much the fault of the better class Of
people as OF any other. | an ready to
admit that crime can never be wholly
suppressed By the terrOrS OF the civil
law" still l think all will agree with me
that a rigid, stern enforcement thereof is
the best method now known to repreSs and
keep il down. fear that reform spoken
Of by YOU, in the article from which have
quoted, which must begin back of the
law" which will take from the criminal
the motive and malice of the murderer"
will never be secured in this world. The
best, and in my Judgment the only way, to
suppress or even control the criminal class
of our people is TO make them feel the ter
rors and rigors OF the civil law. Make
them feel that life is sacred; that he who
takes human life for any cause that there
u
penalty for with his own life.
Crime is on the iucrease-there is but lit
tie doubt of this fact, and believe it is be-
cause the judgments ana findings of our
courts and jures are not rigidly executed.
What is the use Of having courts and juries
and imposing upon the people the expense
and trouble of long trials. if the execu-
tive department OF the government is with
out any new or additional evidence to
throw light on the guilt or innocenSe of
the convicted criminal, 70 turn him out on
society again after few years OF contine-
ment? Crime can never be suppressed or
decreased in this way. On the contrary,
this is the way to increase it. The civil
law can never have any terror to the GRIM
inal class as long as this wholesale system
OF executive clemency exists. There is too
much of il all over the county
in all the States Of this Union
aud il is time ii was being exercised with
mHch more caution and CIrcumspectlon, |
do not believe the Executive should be de-
pfiyed Of the pardoning power, but do say
II ought not 10 be exercised so freely
never without the production Of some
evidence 10 show the court and jury that
tried the case were mistaken as 10 the par
tvs guilt Men are not going to be de-
TERED from criminal acts, il they feel they
, an be pardOned after few years Of pun.
Ishment repeat, there is too much Of
this Executive clemency all over our coun.'
try, and, believe, is one great cause for
the alarming increase of crime. | do not
wish 70 be understood as placing ali
the blame for this condition OF
things upon the occupant of
the Executive office. The Executive
seldom, ii ever, moves in matters Of this
kind, without being pressed thereto by the
people, or at least some of the people
must, therefore, share the blame with the
Executive. Most of these ,pardons are,
however, induced by the people simply
signing petitions for the prisoners release.