New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-24
A FITTING END.

II often happens that the execution or a
murderer evokes a feeling of sympathy which
may not be justifable but which cannot be
wholly stifed. Tho crime may have been
committed in moment of anger without pre-
meditation, or there may be serious doubts in
the minds of many of the murderers guilt.
The shadow of the scaffold falls upon the pub
lie as well as upon the criminal. His crime is
nearly forgotten, especially If 1t Is, as usual
two or three years since it was committed
Even those who would not save him if they
could, feel that it is terrible thing to take
human life and find themselves indulging be-
fore they know it in vague sympathy with
the man, especially if he has any rcdecmmg
qualities or the case presents cXtenuatlng
circumstances.
No such feeling could possibly show itself
regarding the hanging of Driscoll. the des-
perate rullian who paid the penalty OF his
crimes yesterday. When mad dog has been
sLot there is general sentiment OF rel'ef
and the principal difference between Drlscol
and vicious and Infatuated beast appears 10
have been that Driscoll walked on two legs,
when he ought to have walked on four. Ills
career was an epitome of all that is brutal and
demoralizing In the lower life of this city.
Serving his first term in the penitentiary when
little more than fifteen years old. his life since
then has been one steady round of robborIcs,
thcfts, shootings, stabbings and other crimes
too numerous TO mention. until now he dies on
the gallows, a veteran law-brcaker at little
over thirty. His pre-emincnce in brutality
and rccklcSsncss made him the leader OF one
Of the most noted and most formidable gangs
in the city. Every thief and "tough'' who
reads the account of tho execution will do so
with a feeling of pride in the grit of the
"Whyo" chief, whose feats as thief and
bully have so often excited the admiration of
all who arc following in his footsteps.
II is much TO be wished that the lesson of
his life and death might be taken to heart
bv the men Of his class, but there is no prob
ability of it, Each Of them will go on in his
Old ways, only hoping that if he is brought to
the same fate he may distinguish himself by
diving as game as his chief. To law abiding
citizens one Of the most significant, and at the
same time one of the most shocking, features
of the case. is the fact that these desperadoes
often owe the mpunity with which they con-
tinue their careers of crime to political inllu-
cnce. II is shameful. and even terrifying
thing thai tnlS SnOulu Dc So puU VA"' ~ ~ ~
is notorious. The influence of the worst type
Of corner GROCERY politicians is felt IN the
lower walks of administration of justice in this
city in way that might we'll fill the good
citizen with dsmay. If these ruhans forming
the "gangs" which still infcst certain parts
Of the city in spite of the efforts of the police
knew that they would be promptly arrested
upon the commission of crime, and imprisoned
for the longest term the law would permit
and that past services to some vile ward poll
tlcan would not keep them from the jail OF
the gallows one hour, their bravado would be
much lessened. But as it is now, there exists
\ class of mon who are willing to use them
and arc compelled to acknowledge the obllga-
ton when The time comes; and another class,
cutwardly more respectable, who are ready to
profit by their cxertions in secret. This Is
shameful state of things and there ought to
no como remedy for it,