The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-24
WEEKLY BAZOO.
SEDALI6 Nc.
TUESDAY, MARCH "a, 1885.
ANCIENT AND MODERN MUIR.
DERS.

punishment was not only inflicted
upon him, but upon his family, also.
Social ostracism followed, and so
great was tie prejudice against each
Individual connected by family ties
with the offender, that the exhalations
Of the very air they breathed, were
supposed to bear contamination. The
worldly possessions of the murderer
we're confscated for the benefit Of the
family of his victim, and after peri
sa Of solitary confinement in dun
xesn, with no intercourse with the
outside world, whatever, the death
sentence, which wss sure to follow,
fer there were no degrees of killing in
those days, was executed. No dis
tinctions were made on account OF
s'nigh social standing" or previous
prestige in the community.
Various modes oftaking the lives OF
murderers were in vogue, that supposed
to produce the most painful and ling
sring death, being the wheel. This
instrument of torture was modelled
after the fashion of an ordinary was-
sn wheel, so constructed as to incline
from any point of its circumference at
an angle of about forty-fve degrees.
The criminal was dashed to the spokes,
and team being attached, was driv.
en- rapidly around in a circle, the vic.
tim literally dying, upon the revolving
wheel, by inches.
But what change has come over
as. The murderer of to-day is hero.
no sooner is he placed behind the
bars, than the sickly sentimentalism
Of a certain class of crack-bra idiots
il let loose, and petitions innumersble
are placed in circulation. praying fol
executive clemency. While what
should be the bare walled cell of the
felon, is transformed into a drawing.
room, the very air of which is lader
with the sweet perfume of rich anc
rare exotics; placed there by womer
who ordinarily pass in society fol
ladies.
1t has only been within the pas
year that a parallel case with that re
ferred to above, came under our per
sonal observation. A young man wa
being tried for murder. His crime
was most cowardly one, and, stripped
sfal false sentimentality, was withou
extenuating circumstances. During
the progress of the trial, a lad,
stepped up to the table near which TIT
murderer was sitting, and place.
thereon bouquet of rare and beauti
ful flowers. Judge s., who wa
presiding at the trial, Immediately
stopped the proceedings, and in lar
cuage which could not be mistaken
expressed bis disapproval of any suc|
demonstration. He ordered tn
flowers thrown out of the window
and announced that if a repetition o
the act occurred, he would fine an,
imprison the party guilty of it. b
they man or woman.
Another instance, and one of loca
interest, was that of the man Daniels
who some four or 6vsy years ago mur
dered comrade for the paltry sum O
$3.50 and silver watch. Many 81
dalians will remember the disgusting
details connected with his imprison
nent.
If the example of Judge s. coul
only be followed by other jurists,
would be at least one step toward
reformation in this matter.
When q woman, no matter whs
her position in society may be, 50 fs
forgets herself. as to make herself th
guest of red-handed murderer in h
cell, she forfeits all claim to the It'll
Of lady. Of course, there are mob
women banded together in all larf