The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-30

sE<TTLE. s4TEEDzY. DEc. 30.


The horifcfdai crank, ffenoefsnss, WHO
murdered Mayor Harrison. Of Chicago.
was yesterday convicted and sentenced TO
be hung. n anybody but Ai.geld we're
governor OF Illinois Prendergast would be
sure 20 stretch hemp. bat a governor who
was wiiling 20 pardon the Chicago an
srcbssts IL dangerously likely TO commute
the sentence Of Prsndergast. The behavior
OF Prendergass during his trial was very
ike that of Gufteau. and he probably spoke
the truth when be said he killed Mayor
Harrison "without any feeling of personal
malice" Probably Booth, who killed
Lincoln, and Gaiteau, who murdered Gar
field, were not stimulated to commit their
great crimes from any feeling OF personal
vindictiveness toward their iIicstrious VIC
Tins: nevertheless Guiteau, Booth and
?rendergast were not irresponsible luna
tics; that is. they knew that they were
violating the law, and they were capable
of self-ressraint had they not deliberately
chosen 10 defy human law and the conse-
aucnces of It's violation.
/, will not be pretended that any man
~
soIutely sane man in the sense that men
like Washington, Franklin, Webster and
Lincoln we're sane. but there Is . long dis
tanee between the responsibility OF man
of ill-arfanged or unarranged brains and
the responsibility of a maniac for his
deeds.
The homicidal crank Of the Prendergast
type In ms old rs the race. Erostratus,
who fred the Ephesian dome out Of the
notoriety that his folly would insure him.
was Of this type. The love Of notorsety
and iawIessness is the earmark OF these
criminal cranks. To illustrate; the great
John Hampden probably detested the
Duke of Buckingham, as did FELTON,,
who murdered the duke, but Hampden
would never have assassinated personal
or political enemy. The creatures. Ike
Ravaillac, who killed Henry the Fourth
OF France, like Gerard, who murdered tho
Prince Of Orange; or like Fieschi. who in
1850 tried TO blow up King Louis Philippe
with an internal machine, were all Of this
type of homicidal crank. fellows of In
tense morbid seif-esteem. who are always
ready to execute their own personal sweet
will In defiance of the peace and order OF
society.
1t will not be pretended that such cres-
lures are in state of perfect mental
health and moral sanity: nevertheless.
these creatures kmo. vhat they are about
they know that their homicidal acts are
crimes against the laws of society. and
they know the consequences OF their law
less acts and should DO made TO suffer
them. OF course. there is vast differ.
encs between the brains Of honest men
and a vast difference between the mental
power and sanity of the various in
dividusls who compose the criminal
classes. bu: the Law cannot stop 10
make hna distinction between the mental
health and moral power of the individuals
who compose the criminal hotnieidal
class az the country. Booth knew that he
had committed a crime, so he ran away,
Guiteau knew that he had committed 9
crime. for he attempted Co run away af;ei
lie had shot Garfield: and Prendergas'
knew that he had committed = crime. fol
he went 10 tho police station and CAV,
himself up. These homieiaaI eranks, tried
hy their Own arbitrary. .eif-erceted stand
ards In the court of their own convictions
doubtless feel entirely satisfied with theii
own conduct, bat that does not constitut,
assate OF mental or moral Irresponsible,
for their acts. They have dehed the Law
knowing Il 20 he the law. and they ar,
legally and medically sane enough TO snffe
the consequences of their crimes.
The sister OF Charles Lamb was suh,ec
60 periodical attacks OF homicldsl mani,
and in one Of them she stabbed 90 death
her own mother. whom she dearly loved
There was tao question Of the totai r,enta
and moral iFresPonsib,lity OF Mary Lsml
for the murder Of her mother and the Eng
lish law simply required that she be con
hned in On asylum during her periodic 81
Il frenEy. but these homieidsl crank. VIII,
crimes should always be sent 10 the sea,
fold.
These homtosaal ersnks are sane enough
So understand that they have no right Z,
'lyneh" every man whom ihey have tried
convicted and sentenced TO death for som
real or faueiei violation Of the "hjThs
law" OF erankdom. Every community
large or small. includes It's eranks
who gradually hecons more ans
mere tencraiiFsa, they begin ny wrsiIn
or utieElng threats Of violsncs sxagns
everybody who does ret agree with them
and anally By culavstins these morhi,
habits Of violent unressrsined speed
they execute with the pistol or dynamic
the threats they have 50 lsag busted ,hsa
selves in committing TO pare.
joseph Donion, the crank who sen
threatening letters 20 vics Pre- s.isnt Ste,
snson. Senator Mills and others. Is now o.
trial in Washington City. lie hiss rot yc
reached the homlei3ai crank stage. bal b.
IS sure 10 set there II re Is allowed 20 20 a
large w.lhoUt punishment. Usfoyta
nRsely tie ranks o. she rouslist party &
day are fuA II these creatures, fer tha
party : organized On the rriaespie % Sc
riding ard detyins TIE present avs az,
government Of this coausry amG subxstu:
Ing for them k.Hd VI state socialism
which - long s,ep il sAs asFect.oa % al
se.nts sasrc5izEa-