New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-30
11TtuEKS LICENSE TO KILL


LlTrnERS LICENSE TO KILL
The atrocious murder of one of the Jackson
prison keepers by Latmer is likely 10 revive
the agitation for the restoration OF capital pun
ishment in Michigan. IL is in that state thaC
the opponents of the death penalty nave sue
cecded in having their humane policy plac-
tically tested for a long period. The earliest
results of the abolition of capital punishment
seemed to Justify their argument. There was
\ marked increase in the number OF convic-
tions in murder cases, juries ordinarily agreeing
ouickly upon verdicts which condemned the
accused 20 Imprisonment rather than to death.
There were fewer miscarIagcs CT justice III the
criminal practice of Michigan than IN other
States where the death penalty was enforced.
At the same tiine there was no increase vi
crime of the first magnitude For the hrst
decade the statistics tended to confirm the pre-
dicticns of the advocates of clemency In deal
ing with murderers; but as time has gone OF
the argument has been reversed. Evlcence IS
not lacking to prove that imprisonment for lie
has ceased to exercise sufficient deterrent IN
nuence to insure public safety and welfare
Michigan legislators are already DIVIDED IN
opinion respecting the wisdom OF peisevcring
in carving out the humane policy. and there
is a strong public sentiment in favor OF the
restoration of capital punishment, at least in
certain class Of cases.
Latimers last crime indicates clearly the
inefIicency IF the existing law. lie oilers rs
striking an illustration of total depavity as
any old school theologian could desire. "A
manufacturers son in Rhode Island, he was
carefully trained in Sunday school and well
educated in high school; but from the re-
moval Of his family to Michigan when he had
Gene OF age he has shown himself II be
monster Of iniquiiy. lie is strongly suspected
Of having poisoned his father, who died under
mysterious circumstances: and he certainly
murdered his mother four years ago. while
living in Jackson. Iii, preparations for the
crime were simple; for proving an abb they
were ms. elaborate. Having locked the
cellar dor If his mothers house and taken the
key away with him. he told his clerl. that he
was going to Detroit t. attend a funeral. Ar
irving at q hotel and engaging a room. he
Immediately returned in disguise to Jackson.
entered the house shot his mother in her bed
and finished his work by striking her in the
head with his revolver. He then canght m
early train for Detroit. aS to support his plea
that he had been sleeping III the hotel IN the
night of the murder. His conviction turned
upon the testimony Of chambermaid at the
hotel and upon iden,iiicaiions during his two
night jouincys. lie was sentenced u imprs-
onment for life.
His next crime was planned with even great
err deliLeration. After gaining the confidence OF
the gatekeepcis and inducing them to lunch
with him habitually. and 10 allow him TO pre-
lare chocolate fJr them and TO wait upon and
entertain them with stories. he made IA secret
study of poisons in his cell and obtained prnssic
acid from drug store cstensibly for the de
velopmcnt If Photographic plates. On the
night which he had selected for escape, lunch
ing as usual at midnight with the keepers, he
made lemonade for them and for the gatenan.
lIaight the gaieman. died within an hour from
the effects of large dose Of prussic acid. Gill,
one Of the night keepers was also very sick,
and Laimcr. under the pre,cnce Of obtaining
assistance took the keys and walked ont Of the
pi,tn The circumstances indicate deploisble
laxity Ct prison discipline and an almost in
credible lack Of precautions and safeguards in
dealing with convicis of a most dangerous class.
Stringent reforms will undoubtedly be adopted
in consequence CT these extraordinary dis
closures. What will battle the ingenuity Of the
prosecuting authorities and reformers alike il
the problem Of furnishing the murderer for his
new crime, now that he has been recaptnred
and taken back 10 prison.
I.aimer is already under sentence Of imprs-
onment for matiicde. lie cannot be punished
for his new crime Of numbering one keeper and
attempting to kill another, since the death
penalty cannot be imposed in Michigan. The
law has exhausted its punitive resources with
ont lettering him from repeating his crime
Already responsible for two and probably three
deaths, this condemned murderer can resume
at leisure his diabolcal devices for slaughter
ing his feow-men without fear of conse-
auences. The law cannot harm him, and he
will not stand in dread Of it. We are not sur
prised, in view Of these circumstances, to find
the legislators in Lansing considering the ne
cessity of modifying the criminal practice Of
the State. They are asking with good reason
this serious question is that law really
humane which licenses kiling?"
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SENATOR'S by APPOINTMENT.
II is probable that a majority of the Senate