New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-23
MURDEB UNDER THE GALLONS.

The death penalty is feeble menace III the
prevention Of crime. No better evidence Of
the futlity Of hempen justice as a deterrent
agency can be offered than is to be found in
the details Of the horrible murder in Brooklyn
committed twenty four hours before the hang
ing Of four men in the Tomb> The execu-
ton of the death sentences of these four muir
derers was planned. either deliberately or for
the convenience of the hangman. 50 as " have
cumulative effect Each had aTogated to
himself the right to take life, and each was
required to pay forfeit in kind. -Four deaths on
the scatTold were arranged to occur slmiutane-
ously. and thus yndicate with solemnity and
impreSsiveneSS the majesty of law For weeks
the impending fate Of these four doomed men
has been the subject of daily conversation and
libald Jest among the criminal classes OF this
community. AT last only one day remained on
earth for the condemned wretches. and the
Jail carpenters were at work fitting together
the beams of the scaffods and adjusting the
weights: but even as the hammer and
the cleaking of the ropes We're heard at the
Tombs the victim of fresh and peculiarly
atrocious murder lay weltering in his blood a
mile away. Even with four deaths planned
had so few teirors in reserve for evil doors
that three burglars were calmly plotting at
the further end of the Bridge crime which
ended in most,revolting murder.
If the use of electricity as an agency Of
death will impart additional dread of execu-
tions-and this will be at the outset, at least,
one result Of the adoption of the new method
it will possess striking advantage over
hanging. Desperate criminals have grown so
accustomed TO the idea of the hempen moose
as possible agent in shortening their wIetched
careers that they have almost ceased to he in
tluenced by fear when they deliberately take
the chances Of midnight maiauding and vio
lence. Death by electricity will be invested
with elements Of mystery until by frequent
repetition the mechanical details, the adequacy
Of batteries and the symptoms of conscious
pain and mental disturbance are currently
understood Hardened offenders like McllWan
and his accompliceS fail into the habit Of say
ing. " may be hanged some day when luck
is against me- very much as other men eX-
claim, " In the end ! must die from one dis
ease or another; and the thought Of the rope
and the suspended weights does not deter them
from taking the risks Of their crimes. 1t will
ment Of hanging as method Of capital pun
ishment if a new and unfamiliar form Of death
he found by practical experience to exert some
influence. even for decade or two, in arming
the law with mysterious terrors. Certainly
hanging has grown too familiar a subject Of
contemplation among the criminal classes Of
| large cities to exercise a strong deterrent
effect. The hacking to pieces Of the German
grocerman in brooklyn while preparations were
making q mile away for four deaths on the
scaffold proves this.
| The Brooklyn mnlder closely resembles that
of Mr.. Weeks. who was shot about thirty
months ago in his house by a burglar, and
whose murderer after two convictions is now
awaiting the final action Of the Cont Of APP
peals. Mr.. Luca aroused in the middle Of
| the night by suspicious noises. entered his
dining room TO grappe with a burglar, who
killed him with repeated thrusts with long
knife. The struggle lasted long enough TO
arouse the remaining inmates Of the house. to
secure positive Identification of the murderer.
and to bring the police on the ground in time
10 arrest him as he was running up the street,
his clothes dripping with blood. The evidence
| Of his guilt was so overwhelming that a con-
| fession was at once blurted out and his two
accomplices are known and one Of them is
under arrest. This time, happily, there can
not be any protracted delay in securing the
conviction of the murderer and his accom-
plices as there has been in the case Of Green
wad. The course of justice cannot be too
swift and sure in melting out punishment for