New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-10-28

proof of guilt is clear and satisfactory
p know Of no other means that tn,
innocent can employ to protect thei
right to live. think that one who viii
fully preys on human life should forfei
his own. In 1862 thirty. eli ght Indians
were hung at Mankato for the murder
ofcitizens of New Ulm and that vicinity
and in humble way ! helped to do it
| sincerely hope that I shall not be
called upon either here or hereafter tc
apologize to those lousy brutes for the
part took in that exhibition. You say
that the hanging of Rose at Redwood a
few days since for the murder of Moses
Lufkin has created in your vicinity con-
siderable opposition to punishment by
death. assume that Rose was guilty,
if he was not, his lot was certainly a
hard one. It is true that the rope broke
at the execution of Rose and let him
fall on the ground. This fact seems to
have aroused for him great deal of
sympathy, many surmlsing that he suf-
fered more than he would had the rope
not parted. It is barely possible that
this is so, and I feel very sure that
Moses lufkin suffered great deal more
when Rose sent rifle ball crashing
through his body than he would have
suffered had Rose let him entirely alone.
This is a question that ought to be an
swered correctly before long; Who is
the most entitled to sympathy, the MUIR
derer or the murdered?
Hon. g. II. Lineau, St. Paul: In an
swer to your circular letter asking my
views on the question of capital punish
ment I will say, that I always have been
and now am opposed to capital punish
ment and in favor of the repeal of the
present law relating thereto. l am not
opposed to that kind of punishment for
any sentimental reasons, but because of
my belief that many men, convicted
on circumstantial evidence, are not
guilty of the crimes for which the death
penalty is inflicted. I am in favor, how
ever, of curtaillng the pardoning power
TO the extent, that no man convicted of
murder and sentenced to the state prison
shall ever be pardoned, except his in.
nocence should be clearly proven.
Hon. Daniel Buck, Mankato: I have
been sick for several days and unable
to answer your inquiry as to my views
upon the subject of ''capital punish
ment." l have always been of the opin-
ion that whoever wilfully and malicious
ly and without provocation kills anoth-
er person shall be punished with death.
If there is any other reasonable and safe
remedy against wilful murder I have
never found it out. To hang man up
on circumstantial evidence or where
there may be some doubt of his guilt is
another question and I might think it
better to imprison for life. But wicked,
malicious, deliberate murder should be
punished with death, and the cry of
barbarism, that sometimes is put forth
with such earnestness against such pen
atty, is too often but morbid sentimen-
tality. l take no stock in the many pro-
fessions ofinnocence upon the scaffold,
for whoever will deliberately murder,
will deliberately lie.
Rep. Allen J. Greer, Lake City: Am
not in favor of repeating the present
law. The "Rose case'' may be peculi-
ar;I know nothing about 1t. But if there
were any circumstances in his case,
which would have warranted the Gov
ernor in committing his sentence it
would certainly haYe been done by his
excellency. I do not believe in changing
our criminal code at every session of
the legislature. It only tends to de-
crease respect for our laws.
Rep. o. B. Turrell, Redwood Fails:
Your favor of 10Th inst, asking nv
opinion as to the repeal Of the present
law relating to capital punishment is
received. In reply / will say that I be-
lieve society is better protected and the
security and good order of the state
more certain under the law which saws
to the victims and criminal classes:
"Your life shall be the penalty for the
highest crime known to the law than
by return to system which experi-
ence has proved is no deterrent Of
crime. am therefore opposed to the
repeal of the present law.
County Attorney NJ. G. Robertson
am opposed to the law in question
and hence favor its abolishment by the
next legislature. The final cause and
end of human punishment for violation
of law should be understood before any
attempt is made to give a correct solu-