The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-23
NO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Gov. Howard Says the Experiment Is
a Success in Rhode Island.
El-a,,, 81. A.. W.

Gov Howard Says the Experiment Is
Success in Rhode Island.
From the Nelc York Sun.
Gov. Henry Howard, speaking about the
| recent change in the penalty for murder
in New York expressed the opinion that
the abolition of the death penalty in Rhode
Island nearly forty years ago had proved
| entirely satisfactory so far as the aver pe
number of capital crimes in this state com
pared with the number committed in
| other other states. Gov. Howard
| who is noted for literary and
scientific research, and for a care.
ful study of social and econ 0mic questions
was appealed to, while governor, by in
qulregs from another state, who apparently
expected that they would obtain from him
facts and statistics going TO show the fail
ure Of the experiment here. They were
probably surprised when Gov. Howard sent
1aces and figures proving that as TO crimes
OF violence Rhode Isl md was exceptionally
fortunate, and that the punishment of crime
IN this state was almost invariably prompt
and certain.
The penalty for murder in Rhode Island
is imprisonment for life. Should a person
imprisoned for life commit murder. he or
she could be hanged. Such an instance has
never occurred. Trials are speedy. In this
respect Rh2de Island approaches nearer e
England than any other state of the United
States. There is but one appeal after trial
by jury, and that to the full bench of the
supreme court. Should the supreme court
confirm the judgment, the convict is at
once sentenced and begins to undergo the
penalty. The governor cannot D rdon.
He may suspend the execution of Sc tence
until the next meeting of the general
assembly. This has been rarely doue, if
ever. The pardoaing power rests in the
state Senate and the governor combined
The governor recommends aud the Senate
acts. The recommendation comes up in the
regular course OF business, is usually not
acted upon the day that 1t is presented, and
the merits OF the case are thus male subject
to public discussion and inquiry Thus
pardons are seldom granted unless strongly
favored by public opinion, and most par
donS simply amount TO a restoration of
citizenship after the convict has nearly full
filled his sentence.
Persons under life sentence for murder
generally die in prison. In few instances
they have been released on tie verge of the
grave. Murderers are treated Just like
other convlcts, with no greater and no les
severity. As a rule they survive thei
sentence but few years. There are ex-
captions to this rule, however. The most
atroclous murderer in the state prison, me
Patrick Demetry, has been in conf ement
AOi oDOuI SiAIeeu years, ana keeps up very
well under thesStrail. He is continually
noying the authorities with petit
tions for pardon. He has a wealthy
brother somewhere in Missouri, who
is willing to be responsible that
Demetry will commit no more crimes if re-
leased and allowed to go and live with him:
but the Rhode Island authorities are not in-
clined to part with Demetry, even on such
pledge. His crime was of a peculiarly
cruel and horrid characte' He killed his
employer, man named Favor, hid the
body in cellar, rob ed the safe and fed to
Canada. When arrested by Getectiva, now
Deputy Sheriff johnson, he was attending
wedding party, and wore buttonhoIe
bouquet. He was extradited, convicted
and sentenced.
The state prison, In architecture and ar
rangements, is not surpassed in the United
States, being model in every respect. Gen.
Nelson Wall is the warden. He is a veteran
of the Mexican war, as well as of the late
war; and was one of the first to IN ount tho
ladders at the storning of Chapultepec. He
is hale and hearty, notwithsta nding ad vanC-
ing years and severe army service.