Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-17
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
SEVERAL cLsRoYmeHs VIEWS.
interviews With Bishop Gillespie and
Other Representative Disines
or the Subject.


Lansing providing for the re-establishment
of capital punishment in this state. In con
sidering this matter great many questions
arse particularly as 70 the necessity Of such
a Law on our statute books. Equally a. much
can be said in favor of capital punishment
as against il, and It's establishment or non
establishment depends of course on the in
clination To some extent of public opinion.
At the announcement of there being an eff
fort made in the Legislature TO enact
such q Law TELEGRAM reporter was de-
tailed yesterday 10 talk with some of the
clergy in the city and get their views upon
capital punishment. The reporter first pro-
ceeded TO the residence of Bishop Gilleapie,
on Foun tain street, where he was ushered in
10 the Rev. gentleman's study with courte-
Gus greeting. In response TO the question
what he thought of having capital punish
ment reestabiished in Michigan, Bishop
Gillespie replied: ~ am hardly prepared to
give an opinion, am not posted as to the
construction of the bill, and have not seen
any mention of it in the newspapers. /
think, however, that where no question can
arise a man ought to be hanged. For in
stance in the case OF Daniel Goggins, who
murdered his wife in ST. Marks home two
years ago, there could have been no question
raised"
Considering the moral aspect of hang
ing, how do you regard it, Bishop?
"Yes, morally consider it just under the
Old Testament"
The reporter told the Bishop that the pres
ent bill provided for leaving the condemna-
ton Of man to be hanged with the jury;
that unless they recommend it the Court is
to sentence under the existing laws, to which
he answered. 81 have not thought of the
aspect Of leaving it with the jury" he
answered; "people generally regard hanging
with such horror that it would be doubtful if
jury recommend it. Ordinarily the GRIM
inal has two ideas, one of escape and one
of pardon. Imprisonment does not have
the horror to him, that hanging would as
he anticipates either leinency or escape"
The reporter then called at the residence
Of Rev. DR.. Graves on Bostwick street, but
after vigorously ringing the door bell several
times without any response, he concluded
that that gentleman was not at home and so
continued his wandering through the drift
ing snow to the home of Rev. j. 4. Gilbert
DID,, on South Prospect street, but was told
that he was out making calls. Going two
blocks further south the reporter came to
the residence of Rev. Charles Fluhrer, whom
he found comfortably seated in his study
considering "Old Age, or Life's Rember-
ances and Decline" the subject of
his discourse at the Universalist church
tomorrow evening. When asked to
he said. IL have always regarded capital
punishment as barbarous. My objection to
imprisonment for life is, that it doesn't
amount to that, practically, and ceases to be
terror to the criminal. / woold prefer to
see the pardoning power taken from the
Governor and invested in some other author
ity. The great terror of punishment is the
conviction of its certainty. AS it is now,
for life doesn't mean so.
Pardons are too numerous. Put this power
into the hands Of some higher court or some
competent board it would guard it better so
that 1t would become a terror and the end
reached without re-establishing capital pun
ishment. The law Is not, or rather the exc
cutioners Of il are not, severe enough with
criminals.
The TELBGRAM scribe then called upon
Rev. Henry Powers at Park Place, who gave
his opinion to the question about as follows:
Il have some decided views on this question
which are the result of study and considera-
ton years ago and see no cause to change
the conclusion arrived at then. / am not in
favor of the death penalty as a punishment
of crimes. I think people ought to take
care of their criminals. l think il is a sign
of weakness to send people to another world,
morally and economically. Morally it is
bad policy to take life unless the very life of
the state depends upon it. What is wanted
in punishment of crime is certainty. II is
the certainty of punishment that deters
man from crime. The history Of capital
punishment proves that it is the most un-
certain that we have. The tender-hearted-
ness Of men will stand in the way of making
ID certain. In the criminal court the chances
are that the penalties will not always be in
fiicted. prefer to have penalty that can
be inflicted.
Rev. Peter Moerdyke was the next repre-
sentative of the clergy called upon, who
gave the following opinions: 'Some years
ago had quite discussion with my brother
on this topic, We discussed the question
two months in religious paper. advocated
the abolition of capital punishment. My
brother took strong grounds in favor of it,
planting his argument on the scriptures.
thought based my views on the scriptures.
I believe that the history of this whole mat
ter and the experiments made, have within
the past fifteen or twenty years changed
great many peoples minds on the subject,
in this and foreign countries. Human life
seems 10 be growing cheaper in our country
all the while. With such silly fellow a. Be
COLE in the Governors chair men are enconr-