The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-09
Tho killing of Murderer.

Our valued clerical correspondent, who
wants condemned men to be drugGed into
state of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS before they are put
to death by electricity, undoubtedly dis
plays sentiment OF humanity altogether
creditable TO him. But he must remember
that the theory is that capital punishment
detcrs from crime because of It's tcrrors, and
II they are removed or lcssened that as
sumod effect must DO diminished.
AS IL Is, we believe the sherfls attending
upon man about to be hanged are merciful
enough to brace him up with stimulants,
and perhaps the prison keepers may try to
so sustain KEMMLER TO bear tho frightful
orlcal through which he must pass
in the death chair OF BROWNS con-
trivance. To do moro and reduce him
to Inconsistencies would require the
services or the advice Of ply
sician, and would be distinctly In viola
ton OF the spirit of the law and the theory
OF tho death penalty. II a man is to be killed
as punishment for killing, tho slaughter
ought to be done without such mercy, for
the object is not merely to put him to death,
but TO do the Job so coldly and mercilcsSly
that other people disposed to murder Will
be frightened from the crime.
It Is not possible to make the killing hui
name. Every sentiment OF humanity Is re-
volted by the killing OF q bound captive. 1t
Is horrible work, and therefore only one man
out OF millions can DO found who is willing
to undertake it oven for great pay. Even II
it is proposed to lessen tho mental torture
of the condemned. our clerical correspond
ent's device is unsatisfactory. Instead OF
ntnh
him with the electric current after
elaborate preparation, the quickest and
most painless way is to hit him over
the head with an axe at once, as an
OK is slaughtered. taking him unawares.
Then he dies without knowing what killed
him. It Is also method Of execution to
make tho blood curdle; and II there Is any
thing in the deterring effect Of capital pun
ishment, we then have 1t in its fulness. Be-
sides, IL mon are to be slaughtered as II they
were beasts, tho method OF the shambles
might very properly be adopted.
The whole argument for the retention OF
the death penalty is that it restraints people
from murder. There Is nothing else to be
said in favor Of it, and hence it should either
be abolished or made as horrible as possible.
The sufTerings of the individual executed
are OF no consequence as compared with the
benefits which would be obtained il murder
was prevented. or course, the sentiment OF
humanity is shocked by mere butchery;
but, as we understand it, that is one OF the
chief purposes OF au execution. 1t must pro-
ducc such shock or fail Of its effect.
Our clerical correspondent therefore is on
the wrong track. II we keep up the death
penalty, we must not diminish its horrors.
The point to consider is whether in actual
experience it exercises the deterring intlu-
ence which alone would be justification for
continuing the barbarous punishment How
is the case in this State and in all the
States of the Union where 1t re-
mains? Few countries in the world
show so many murders proportionately
to the population. Yet We persist in cling
ing to capital punishment, though it Is prac-
tically disused or is administered very rarely
on the Continent Of Europe, and in some OF
the countries ls abolished altogether, with
tho lessening Of the number OF murders.
At any rate you cannot make killing con-
sistent with Christianity, though the clergy
themselves stupefy the victim with drugs.