Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-06-15
HANGING ABOLISHED.
New York Sun. !

Governor Hill having signed the
bill to that effect, after the first Of
next January electricity will be
substituted for hanging as the
method of administering the death
penalty in the State of New York.
This change is in accordance
with the increasing tenderness OF
modern civilization with regard to
infliction ofpain upon man or beast,
for by means of the electric cur
rent produced instantaneOusly, aud
without the shock to the sehsiblli-
ties OF the observers caused by 9th
er forms OF legal execution, wheth-
er by hanging, by the ak, or even
by the garrOte. The criminal is
desdarched neatly, expedltiousIy,
and painlessly, and that the meth
cd of death is sure has been proved
in many cases of men who have
dropped deal instantly after touch
ing electric light wires. The con-
demned will be seated blindfolded
on chair provided with the prop
er electrical appliances and attach
ments, and on the touching OF a
button by the executioner he will
be dead.
When, some time ago, The Sun
consulted the murderers under SEN
tence of death in the State as to
their feelings on the matter, they
we're all in favor OF the change,
because of the sure and instanta-
neous death by electricity, and be-
cause it seemed to them less re-
voting and less disgraceful than
that by the gallows, Of horrld signi'
fication. But whatever their pref
erences, such of those particular
murderers as are not already hang
ed will die on the gallows, il the
sentence of death is carried out at
all in their cases, for the new law
applies only to crimes committed
onlor after Jan. |, 1889.
1t is a grave question whether
this mitigation of the terrors ol
the death penalty by a change in
the manner of its execution, wei
coined by murderers themselves
will he as satisfactory to society
The only justification for contlnu
ing that penalty, so abhOrrent t.
modern sentiment, is that, as tn
most dreadful of all punishments
it acts as the most effectual deter
rent from the highest OF crimes
If, then, we are to diminish th'
horror with which it is regarded
by abandoning a method of execu
ton universally held to be tn
most disgraceful, and substituting
another more mercitul and less IN
famous in the popular estimation
do we not so far defeat the yer.
purpose OF the judicial killingY
1t is true that the new law sui
rounds the execution of the pen
atty with a secrecy and an unceI
tainty as to the time when it is t
be inflicted which will theoretical
comrensate for the lessened drea'
of the manner of death. The con
demned will not know beforehan
the exact day and hour of his exc
cution, but will be put to death a
such time during a week named II
the sentence as the principal office
shall select. From the time OF hi
sentence to his death he will b
kept in solitary confinement, yisi
ed only by relatives, physician
and priest, and the public will hea
no more of him, except that on
certain day he was duly killed b
electricity according to law.
The advocates of the ch ange col
tend that such a method of execI
ton Will be more awful to the pol
ular Imagination than a circun
stantially reported hanging; bu
whether that is so can be prove
by experiment only. And the sc
crecy attached to the new proces
of death IS most Objectionable.