Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-29
CAPITAL PuxrsaMENr.
synopsis u lecture Delivered Last
Evening by Rev. r. .. Thaeher.

teCtufe At THAT CuutcH On the SUBJECT OF
Capital Punishment" large number of
people were in attendance and the pews of
the church were filed, so we'll filed, in fact.
that many found seats in the church parlor.
The lecture was an argumentative, scholarly
address which could but cary conviction to
the minds of the audience. The following is
a synopsis of the lecture:
In our State an attempt is being made by
sincere and conscientious men to restore the
death penalty. They think it would protect
| society by diminishing crime. Believing
theirs to be retrOgrdde movement, in order
to help you form sound and reasonable views
on this vital topic, shall enumerate some of
the facts which prove the utter ina leQuacy of
the death penalty to accomplish what is
claimed for it. 1t had its origin in the prin-
ciple of revenge, at a time when men cared
but little whether a man killed another in
tentionally or by accident. In either case he
must die. 1t was considered an act of re-
ligion to crafty this spirit. But our crimi-
nal code is not framed after their model
Facts prove that the death penalty does
not accomplish what e claimed for it. The
experiment of diminishing crime bv this
penalty has been tried for thousands of wears
and been found inadequate BY abandoning
it in the case of minor offences, every ma
ton has confessed that it did not answer its
purpose. Capital punishment therefore,
must be wrong, because experience does not
prove its utility. Within the very shadow of
the gallows men have been arrested in at
tempting the same kind of offence for which
one OF their comrades was being hung.
When England punished with death 100
crimes, life and property were less safe than
at present. During the reign of Henry VIII
~ 900 thieves were hung, and yet robbers
and assassins thronged every city What is
the use then of the death penalty? If it did
not deter men from the commission of slight
offences, we have no reason to suppose that
it will keep them from atrocious crimes. 1t
not only does no good. but produces positive
harm. When murder is legalized and crime
is punish by initiating it, the effect must
be perncious. Violence causes violence.
Criminals will not appreciate the sacredness
of life when it is publicly taken away.
Statistics and history prove this.
Rome, for 250 years, abolished capital
punishment, and Blackstone says ''In this
period the republic flourshed; under the en-
perors severe punishments were revived, and
then the empire fell" In the reign of Eliz-
abeth, while the death penalty was abolished
in Russia. the decrease of crime was aston
ishihk. Inc Roou result oi aooiishlhg this
penalty in Tuscany was seen in the fact
that the prisons were frequently empty; not
a single murder in twenty years. The Sar-
dinian government abolished this penalty in
1860. and though the population has been in
creasing. crime has diminished. But let us
take our own country. In Massachusetts in
1880, there were 90 indictments for murder;
in 1881, % indictments; in 1882, about the
same number. But in Michigan, where the
death penalty has been abandoned, though
the population is about the same as in Mas
sachusetts, in 1879, there were no conyic
tons for murder in the first degree, and only
life sentences; in 1882, were convicted
of murder in the first degree, in the second
degree. Vermont, with population half as
large as Maine, had, in 1879, executions by
hanging for murder in first degree, and
convict was in prison under sentence of
death. The State Prison officials report an
increase, in the number of convicts, of 80
per cent in the two years ending July. 1873.
In Maine during the eight years preceding
the abolition of the death penalty, there
were 80 trials for capital offences, l6 coRvit
tons for offences less than capt IL, for man
slaughter and acqulttals. But IN the seven
years immediately following there were ~
trials for offences formerly capital, Il con-
victions and 3 for manslaughter. Thus show
Ing slight decrease IN NUMBER since the
death penalty was abolished, and not a single
case of acquittal. With one exception, the
most atrocious murders were committed
when the death penalty prevailed These
facts ought to convince every thoughtful
man that capital punishment has not eradi-
Gated crime, but that mllder punishment
has very materially diminished 1t.
The advocates OF capital punishment de-
fend it on the ground that it prevents the
criminal from doing further harm. But I'm
prlsonment for life Will do tins quite as Ell
fectually as hanging. Few would ever at
tempt to repeat their crime IT proper discl
pine were maintained. Inc proo,em OF
dealing with criminals was solved by the
moral genius OF Warden Rlce. Ihls rare
personal power enabled him to go unarmed
when on duty: not single officer was ever
assaulted by an homicide, out the conduct Oh
such convicts averaged better ana gave less
trouble than those under sentence TOT other
crimes. There was less quarreh'ng among
the convlcts AFTER the death Pehai'y was
abolished than before.
BY retaining our system OF perpetual it'
prIsonment for murder, the condition OF
every murderer Is much more CERTAIN ana
the example Is also before the community
living example IS better than a dead one
The certainty of the law is more encacIous
than It's severity PRISONERS u,eau Gonhne