The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-03
oial place to commit himself BY expressing an
opinion about the constit utiona nifty OF the INV.
Mr.. Shcehan Mcets the Que atlons.

SHrcunh Ncets tue OueStlOnS.
Tho Hon. William +. sheehan said he
had boon 40 worried by illness In his family
that no had paid but little atomic to tho re-
cont electrical executions in Sing Sing prison.
The fact OF the matter Is" he said. I have
taken worry littlo interest in the matter any
way ! am not familiar with the law. and I
certainly am not In n position to express an
opinion ~ to Its efficacy. 1t seems to me that
this question OF disposing OF murderers has
received great deal more attention than It is
entitled TO- 1t Is very easy to 20 too far in
looking after tho welfare and comfort Of
criminals"
facts attending an official killing Mr.. Sheehan
thought there could DO no question.
II am bitterly opposed" he said to lioniz-
Ing and pettinR nurderers. Sentimentality OF
thnt sort is maudin."
Mr.. Sheehan was reminded OF the fact that the
newspapers were the chiof instruments that
stopped the practice many women had formed
OF visiting murderers and lavishinR flowers
upon thcm
II am aware OF that" said Mr.. Sheehan.
"and now think the papers should stop print
ing the pictures OF murderers and exploiting
their crimes In big type. There are a grent
many cranks In this world who might easily
DO tempted TO commit murder II they thought
the crime would be followed BY a great deal OF
notoriety. But this IL perhaps going a little
outside the present question. I am strongly
In favor OF aud shall support any measure
that has FOR its object the protection Of
tho rights OF tho press These rights
arc surely assaileh when tho newspapers
are prohibited from printing any public
news that is OF general public inter-
est. That the public wants 10 know
the facts attending the killing of condemned
murerers Is made clear in my mind
by tho anxiety shown by the newspapers 10
print this sort Of matter. 1t may lie arguet
that this sort OF reading Is not wholesome FIR
tho people This may he So but it is raasona-
bic to assume that the people know what they
want ever II they do not know what is good
for them. and 1t Is their right to know all there
is to know about any public business. Tho
representatives OF the press should he admit
ted to the executions in order that thev maT
write the details Of them just as 1t is presented
to their minds. 1t is not likely that any two
men will SEQ the same thing In tho same light.
anil bv taking all the reports and stud,ng
them the people may learn whether or not cleo
tricnl executions are amore humane method
OF disposng G! condemned murdcrers than the
scaffold. Az the matter stands now. the pub
lie is deprived OF all the facts concerning the
executions save those that filter through
sources that NAV not be impartial"
MI. Sbeehan said that Ass ,mblvman Stein
introduced bill into the Assembly last winter
repealing the prohibitory clause in the cleo
trical execution law: that 1t passed the Assem-
bly, with little or no opposition. but that 1t re-
ceived check that efrectually stopped It be-
fore 1t got into the Senate. He didn't remem-
! Der Just what the trouble was.
Hurrnb for Chnuncey Depew!
Cbauncey NJ. Depew declared himself to be
| uni eservedly for repeating the whole law.
lam" he said. opposed to capital punish
ment In any form. IN 30 am an opponent OF
this new-fanelsd way Of taking human life. 1
would like especially to sea this present law
wiped out. but II this cannot be accomplished
/ am heartily In favor OF the Immediate repea;
Of that section Of It which prohibits the publ
cation OF the details. 1t is an ao.
knosiedged fact that whom . criminal Is
put to death 1t Is for tho benefit Of tho
people at large. and the people. therefore.
should DO placed In possession. through their
re: resentatlvss. tho newspapers. OF the fullest
information concerning 1t. The genius Of our
laws docs not require secrecy in public mat
tsrs. nor should any secrecy be countenanced.
The clearest light should be shod upon the
taking OF human life by the law. The mystery
By which the killing Is at present surrounded
works no good purpose. and should be In
stan', swept aside The argument that this
mystery increases the awe which Is caused by
the killing OF a condemned criminal. and there.
fore IL likely to deter persons from committing
murder 10 not we'll founded"
A Brookiyn Republican Love- the Electric
Law aaa Hntes the Press.
Frederick A. Schroeder of Brooklyn said that
in his opinion executions by electricity wore
preferable to executions BY the hangman's
moose He was sure that the condemned GRIM
inal did not suffer under the electric current.
1T kills him." he said. as quick as fash
OF lightning"
corning tho second question. He thought
take In their judgment OF what the public was
interested in. and he was OF tho opinion that
tho public demand for Information concerning
the killing OF condemned criminals would be
fully met II the newspapers printed . great
deal less OF this kind Of news. Mr.. Schroeder
said he hadn't given tho matter enough
thought to warrant him in expressing def
mite opinion concerning the right OF the papers
to print this kind OF news or in saying any
lar section OF the law.
The Hon. u. slost Fsssett Replies Like .
Crank.
Senator J. Sloat Fsssstt announced himself
in broad terms as being In favor OF capital
punishment.
In answer to tho first question he said:
Il am not in favor OF repeating the present
law because l believe tho new system Is
preferable 70 the old. and. while am certain
that 1t Is In every way inferior to the French
guilotins and the Spanish garrote. believe 1t
10 the best system wo are likely to have for
many years. and l am therefore heartily In
favor OF It,"
In reply to the second question no SAID:
II do not believe IN having upon tho statute
books any law or any section OF law that is to
be repeatedly violated without the application
OF the prescribed penalty. tits q well-known
fact that the newspapers print what the public
desires to read. and II the public desires sen.
sational matter that kind OF reading will be
furnished them. l am Oppossd. however. TO
the printing OF all the horrible details OF
judicial killing. and l think 1t would be better
II all those details wero left out NotwIth-
standing this. I am in favor OF the repeal Of
that section which prohibits the printing OF
l