The record-union., 1891-04-08
NO MORE COUNTY EXECUTIONS.

NO MORE COUNTY EXECUTIONS.
California has made long stride ahead
in amending the law providing for the
execution of the death penalty. Under
the amendment to the code passed by the
late Legislature there will be no more
hanging at county seats; Sherifs will no
longer be public executioners; county
towns will no more be thrown into un-
healthy excitement by hanging-day;
communities VIII no more be morbidly
worked up and the sensibilities of youth
hardened by the hanging of criminals in
jail-yards; sickly sentimentalists will
not any longer be enabled to weep over
the condemned in his last days, nor weak
women be permitted to shower him with
tears and flowers and embraces in his
final days of life. In short, all the dra-
matte and offensive scenes and sensa-
tional effects surrounding county hang
ings have had their day and in California
cannot be repeated hereafter
Under the new law the day for execu-
ton is appointed as heretofore, and within
ten days from the time Of the judgment
the Sheriff must deliver the prisoners to
the Warden of one of the State Prisons.
This takes the condemned from the
County Jail at least fifty days prior to
execution, and thus eliminates the SEN
sationalism of last days that has hereto
fore prevailed.
When the day of execution arrives the
Warden must carry out the judgment of
death within the walls of the prison. He
must be present in person, and must in
vite the presence Of a physician, the At
torney-General of the State, and of at
least twelve reputable citizens to be Sc
lected by him. He must permit the con-
demned to have present not exceeding
two ministers of the Gospel, as the pris-
oner may select, and relatives or friends
not exceeding five, as the prisoner may
name. The Warden may have present
such peace officers as he may think ex-
pedient to witness the execution. But no
others than those named shall be present
and no person under age shall witness the
execution.
1t is provided that if the Warden be-
heves the prisoner insane, with concur
renee of the Judge who pronounced the
judgment a jury may be summoned
from the regular jury list of the county,
and the question of insanity tried, the
District Attorney appearing for the peo-
pie. The verdict must be signed by the
twelve jurors and the Warden, and filed
with the Clerk of the county in which
that the prisoner is insane the Warden
must suspend the execution until the
Governor or the Judge of the Superior
Court of the county in which the prison
is located, directs the carrying out of the
judgment.
So, too, in case of female prisoner
who is discovered to be pregnant, tho
Warden must, as in the case of suspected
insanity, call an inquisition of three
physicians, and if pregnancy is proved
the execution is to be suspended until
the Governor is satisfied that the woman
is no longer pregnant, when he shall
issue his warrant appointing day tor the
execution to take place.
Under this new law, therefore, instead
of fifty-five scaffolds in California there
are to be but two; instead of fifty-five
hangmen there will be but two commits
stoned, and no one save the Wardens of
the prisons will know who they are. In
stead of blazing, harmful and hardening
sensational reports of the press prior to
executions, we viii have only cold state
ments of facts and they will be bat brief.
since Wardens will not permit their pris-
ons to be invaded by reporters hourly to
work up sensational interviews with the
condemned. There will be no more
bungling in executions, or, at least, very
little, for instead of iifty-five inexperi-
enced officials in fifty-five counties, there
will be two experienced men chosen to
carry out the judgment Of the law.
However viewed the new law is a good
one and is creditable to the Legislature
that had the courage to pass it and the
Governor who approved it. The RECORD
UNION advocated the passage of precisely
the same law at every session of the Legis-
them could be moved to adopt the desired
bill.
New York enjoys the honor of having