Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-23
RECEIVED BY SHERIFF M'CLEARY
Causes a Discussion as to Where the EI-
treme Penalty of the Law
Should Be Carried Out.
CRIMINALS SsAyED BY SENTINENTALITY.
EIym ssurlsy, Chief Brevn and an Ohio Sheriff Give
Their Views.

at the execution of William West, the col
ored man, who was convicted of the murder
and robbery of old Farmer Crouch and his
wife last summer. The execution is 10 oc-
cur between the hours of 10 A. M. and P.
NJ. next Thursday.
Sheriff McCleary naturally felt pleased
at this delicate compliment from brother
Sheriff, but stated that he thought he would
be unable 10 attend Mr.. Vests last public
reception, and will simply send his regrets.
Mr.. McCIeary has a well-merited reputa-
tion for ioviality, but be does not believe
he could throw his soul into an affair OF this
kind, and is afraid that his. efforts to
Tighten the gloom which will naturally
shroud such an event. especially for the
principal, would be futile.
This invitation LED the Sheriff to refer to
the bills introduced into the Legislature,
providing that all executions shall take
place in the penitentiaries. One Of them,
the Stocking bill, was introduced in the
House last week and promptly shelved,
while the other, of which Senator Neeb is
the sponsor, has already passed the gaunt-
let OF the Senate, and will shortly come up
in the House.
Works Well in Other States.
81 don't see why the bill should not
PASS" said the Sheriff. alt works well in
Ohio, where the system has been in force
for several wears. 1t would relieve the
Sheriff of an unpleasant duty, although,
personally, would feel no hesitation in
carrying out the provisions OF the law.
Still, some men look at it in different
light, forgetting that they are simply the
instrument of the law, and that upon them
rests none of the responsibility for the death
OF fellow being. Would the State employ
professional hsngmen if the bill passes? Oh,
no. The bill provides that the warden OF
the penitentiary in which the execution
takes place, shall attend to the hanging.
with the modern Improvements now
used in hanging, for the inventor does not
hesitate to direct his genius to such matters,
and, In fact it seems to have a fascination
for many men, there is nothing very re-
pulsive in an execution, and the work is
sub-divided, so that the wholeresponsibility,
il the term can be so misspplied, for the
execution OF the death cannot rest upon the
shoulders of one man.
Last Act of Legal Tragedy.
'fThe Sheriff reads the warrant to the
doomed man, while one or more deputies or
jailers prepare him for the scaffoid, arrang-
ing his neckwear and pinioning his arms.
Then he is led upon the fatal trap,
where another man, perhaps, has ad-
justed the moose. Up to this time
the Sheriff has taken no active part in
the hanging. While the clergyman is pray
ing for the condemned man, at point often
determined upon before, and for which some
particular passage in the PRAYER may give
the cue, the Sheriff touches the button with
his foot, the trap gives way, and the criminal
Is in the throes of death. The Sherifss duty
is ended, except to make his return to the
State.
1.-THE Coroner takes charge of the body,
and, after holding an inquest, turns it over
TO the friends of the deceased. The Sheriff
in reality plays a very small part in the
affair, but some men are esuper-sensitive, and
fell very keenly when called upon by virtue
of their Office TO inf1ict the extreme penalty
OF the law upon a criminal.
At the present time there are several con-
Vlcted murderers in the Jail, but it is ex-
pected that their sentences will be COM
muted, so that the Shtrif's remarks are
entirely disinterested.
Opposed to State Slaughter Houses.
Chief Brown, OF the Department of Pub
lie Safety, whose duty it is to see that mur-
derers are hunted down and convicted, does
not favor the bill. II am opposed to making
slaughter houses out of the penitentiaries
The present system is good enough, and
see no need to change it. The idea is entire
1y too genteel, and seems to exhibit too
much consideration for the feelings of crimi-
Il l.
be hanged as near the scene of
his crime as possible, for the effect it
would have in preventing a recurrence
of such crimes. II you take a muir
derer out of some of the interior counties and
send him TO the Eastern or Western Peni-
Ientiary to be executed, many of his neigh
bors would never realize that be was hanged.
Oh, yes; it would be published in the news
papers, but the very class that hanging is
expected to have an effect upon are not great
readers of newspapers nor any other class of
literature.
''If change is to be made in the law on
hanging it should be in the direction of
making execution follow more closely upon
the heels of sentence. 1t makes bat little
difference where a murderer is hanged ii two
or three years elapse between the sentence
and the execution. The effect of the SEN
tence is lost upon the community"
From Psdagogue's Point of View.
"When 1 taught school," said Msyor
Gourley, 81 found that the only way in
which could make most bows behave was
to make them thoroughly understand that
punishment for misbehayior would follow
swiftly aGd surely. Everybody acknowl-
edges the truth of the assertion, the men are
but children of a larger growth, and there
fore l believe that the punishment of men
for crime has deterrent action upon others.
If il has NOS il should be abolished. Hang
ing is bad use to which to put any man,
and should not be resorted to unless it will
have good effect upon the morals and
manners of tho community"
Here the Mayor initiated Silas Wegg, and
dropping into poetry, quoted:
No rogue eer felt the halter draw,
With good opinion of the law.
Taking this couplet as his text His Honor
continued: The object of hanging is to
enforce respect for the law, and for this
reason too much secrecy should not be
thrown around executions. When people
see that one of their neighbors suffers the
extreme penalty for crime it makes them
thoughtful, and they are likely to hesitate
before taking lie.
"On the other hand the argument may be
made that the greatest terror was inflicted
by the secret tribunals of the dark ages,
when man was simply swallowed up in
some grim fort, and was never heard of by
the outer world again. The people of these
davs would not stand this sort of thing, e1-
eept, perhaps, in Russia"
Criminals Saved by Sentimental Sheriffs.
Er-SheriE John Gates, of Riehland county,
O., vas in the city yesterday. In this
county is located the intermediate peniten-