The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-09

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The execution of Martin d. Loppy at Sing
Sing. New York. on Monday. by electricity,
seems 10 have been even more successful
than the recent execution by the same agency
of Jugigo and his three associates. So far rs
lust conclusion can be drawn from these Eve
instances, electrocution upon fair test has
proved TO he eminently satisfactory Is
means of disposing Of criminals who have
been condemned to death. The first trial was
marked by many revolving features. which
were well calculated TO discourage the adyo-
Gates Of this form of extinguishing life, but
that was due 10 the inexperence Of the otii-
GERS who bad it in charge and to their not
unnatural perturbation under circumstances
so novel and so trying.
All these influences we're absent in the case
of Loppy to an even greater extent than they
were in the four cases which Immediately
preceded it. The officers were calm and IN
disturbed the electrical machinery was in
thorough order and there was nothing 10 pre-
vent perfectly fair trial Of the practical adj
vantages Of electrocutiOn. The opposition
which was once raised against this mode of
inficting capital punishment has apparently
died out entirely in New York. and it may be
taken for granted that it will continue for an
indefinite time to be the only legal mode Of
execution in that State
How far will tho example OF New York gov
ern other States in the final disposition Of
their criminals convicted of capital crime?
VIII electrocution become general or
will it be confined to one State or to few
States more Immediately under the influence
of New York? We do not believe that this
form Of execution will become general within
a reasonable length Of time in the future. but
it will certainly be adopted in a large number
of the Northern States in the near future.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania viii probably
initiate New York at an early day.
With all the prociyity for innovation which
has been exhibited by the Commonwealth Of
New England, it Is quite unlikely that electro
cuhon will be substituted for hanging in
their communities. The tendency there is
rather to abolish capital punishment alto
gether than to make its process more rapid
and less painful This is the humanitarian
sentiment that forgiyes tho murderer while
it forgets his victim.
Electrocution will undoubtedly have a
marked effect in popularizing capital punish
Inent because in the minds of very large
proportion Of people the object to be gained
by capital punishment is not so much pun
ishment for a crime committed as an eternal
radiance for society OF dangerous member
If that member can be put ont Of the world
in q quiet aud painless manner. the scruple
which was entertained as 10 the act, when it
was shockingly painful, is entirely removed
4 foe to order is gone and gone in manner
which was entirely devoid Of every suspicion
of physical torture The living are made
more comfortable by this fact.
II will be many day before electrocution
Will be adopted in the South. not only because
the people in this portion Of the Union are
extremely conservative. but also because the
country is comparatively thinly settled and
its authorities would therefore be IN
willing 10 incur the expense of en-
ploying this form Of capital punish
ment A considerable expense would be
entailed even if all persons convicted OF
capital crimes were brought to the State
penitentiares for electrocution. In many of
the southern counties not more than one ex-
ecution takes place in the course of quarter
of a century. In such instances as these the
gallows affords as efficient means Of extin-
gushing the life of a criminal as the circum-
stances call for. Electrocution would not be
r.sf. -. I 81.
Of the inexperience Of those who wou!d ma
nipulate the destructive agency.
When Virginia shall become as wealthy and
populous as New York we may expect to have
in the penitentiary in this city all the neces-
sary apparatus for electrocution. but not
until then That day will not arrive for some
generations 10 come and it will be many
years therefore before eIectrocution will be
practical question in this Commonwealth.