The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-08-08


Diahatlc scenes attended the passage
oy tue New York Legislature, of the
measure under which Kemmler suffered
death. The bill came from the hands
oi a commission which had been an
pointed to consider a change in New
iorks method of executing murderers.
1t was first presented in the Assembly
and gray haired Saxton-he of the cleo.
toral bill-as chairman of the Assem-.
oiys Judiciary committee, had assumed
Its championship.
IL was winters night, and the great
capitol was thronged. I measure
which should abolish the moose and the
globet was to be placed on it's final pass.
| age In the House, and Charles T.. Sax
ton, an able lawyer and a respected man,
would make the chief speech in it's be-
half. That a struggle would be made
against "the new-fangled notion" by
those who always oppose innovations was
we'll known. The committee hearings
on the bill had foreshadowed this. There
was another and more powerful influ-
ence to be pitted against the measure.
Tor 1t was well known that the Catholic
members would bitterly oppose the
clauses of the bill which consigned the
murderer's remains to the prison yard
with quicklime to hasten dissolution,
and that without religious rites
Every member was in his place. The
floor, the galleries and the Speakers
platform even held curious spectators.
The bill to substitute the mysterious
force of electricity for the rope was
moved, and Saxton, standing in his
place in the brilliant chamber, made his
plea for its passage. Then came the
battle, and it was hotly waged. Ridi-
cule and tauntS were leveled at the
commission which framed the bill-one
of them sitting behind Mr. Saxton. Men
grew angry, some insulting, others used
vicious sarcasm and at each onslaught
the gray-haired SaXton, with magnifi-
cent voice and keen mind, stood ready
Finally, within 10 feet of the bills de-
fender, arose war veteran Longley, of
Brooklyn. He cited the agony of pain
relatives must suffer at not being able to
bury their dead, though the dead be a
murderer. Then he referred to the war
. time and to the sad comfort afforded
; those who were permitted to receive and
bury the bodies of the loved ones killed
in battle.
t 81 move to amend" concluded Mr.
d Longley, "that friends or relatives may
t reclaim the body of the executed man.
There was both heart and brain in the
: response to this
v "When man by his crime forfeits his
d life to the State" spoke Mr.. Saxton,
"the State has undoubted right to dis
Q pose of the murderer's body IS public
t policy may direct. What comfort car
be afforded those who loved the crimi
n nal by viewing the remains which ir
life had failed of self respect, and which
y in death bear the stamp of the States
righteous desecratien9"
st Tn Chicago" continued the speaker
"the bodies of executed criminals wer
A. exposed to relatives and to the public
1T and that city was brought very close t.
a. an insurrection. Public policy woul(
le have been better served had the pro
N visions of this bill been operative there.
as There was pause, in which the thron
as was hushed, and Mr.. Thaxton, turnin
s. toward Ions gly, looked into his eyes.
as "Finally," he broke forth in search
IT. ing monotone that reached every ear
"does the gentleman wish to force upo
me, who served as did he in the Unlo
armies, comparison Of the sacred sol
row for the dead soldier with the pa
!" sion of regret over the corpse OF a oea
murdererW
Interest of the crowded chamber wa
ho too intense for cheers. The crowd Ju
waited in silence. This was broken I
ne new anticipations as Mr.. Roesch-Wt
" since, as Senator passed the weekly pa
he ment bill-arose to speak. 1t was know
~ that he would voice the Catholic opp
to sition to the bill. He said:
Id 81 hold that where relatives claim tt
ho | remains, the State has no right to reta
be them. Property exists in human bodle
nd nd and besides land his voice arose) tn
g bill takes away the right OF burial
consecrated ground"
Here was the challenge made by
:, ligious convictions.
ne "Consecrated grouud!" thundere
oh Saxton. els the plea here made tn
llc, hardship follows retention OF Grimm
ltii corpse from consecrated ground5 /
criminal who in life would not respe
the flesh protected by the law he bro
NAV not in death have demanded for
that which himself had forfeltedY
"But." shouted Mr.. Roesch, "was n
The the body of Christ stamped with
ves- mark of the laws desecration, and W
rot. it not afforded decent burial =
~ The inquiry was launched upon
10. . air with vehement emphasis There
'ei not q sound in the chamber where nr
.,oa oa drcds waited in suspense to eaten
tles response. Saxton stood moment w
'er' bowed head, his face as white as
hair, and then tossed back his LOCKS Il
name, with quivering lips and revere
tone he said:
~ will not stand here to ansWe
ouestion based upon the ASSOCIATION
'tcn tc the Holy Savior's memory with that
tne men executed by the State OF New Il
oiS 1. for murder"
volt He looked squarely into the race
the Mr.. Roesch, who had remained standl
y,ta, but who, after moment OF intense 81
'lah ness, slowly resumed his seat.
The tension of the listeners was rel
rom ed. The bill went through with SO
lred amendments and was sent to the Sens
After lsss dramatic history there
~, passed, and Governor Hill signed II.
nc took effect January 1, 1889, and hen
ler was first to commit murder IN