St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-24


trials because of their inherent scruples
against judicial murder. He quoted
many resolutions of learned bodies and
utterances of great men In support Of
his argument. and made splendid
showing of reasons why the savage
practice should be abolished.
Mr.. Wahlund, who, by the way, is a
minister, would like to see capital pun
iShment abolished, but not by act of the
legislature. He would like to see the
people so advanced that crimes deserY-
ing of the deathspenalty would vanish
from the earth. "Whos0 sheddeth
mans blood, by man shall his blood be
she'd" quoted the reverend member
from Isanti, and by that doctrine he
would abide.
Mr.. Greer sincerely hoped the bill
would not be indefinitely postponed.
OF all the votes he had cast during the
last session, the one regretted most
keenly was his vote against similar
bill introduced by the same gentleman.
His opinion at this time was that the
bill was in keeping with the progress of
Christian civilization.
Mr.. Linnemann also voted against such
bill in the last Legislature, but now
considered he had voted wrong. A
murderer having money and friends
nearly always went free, he said, while
poor man was nearly always con-
vIcted. He would vote to abolish the
death penalty.
Mr.. Furlong believed capital punish
ment was great preventive of crime.
Minnesota had abolished the death pen
atty once, but experience had impelled
them to re-enact it.
Speaker Lee said that aside from the
sentiment in the question, capital pun
ishment had been in vogue long enough
to allow of reliable statistics being pro-
duced touching its operation. The law
OF nation or state should be the
crystallization Of the best thought of
the people, and the death penalty had
become so repugnant to the great mass
OF the people that nearly all murderers
go free. Only per cent of such Grim
lnals are shown to have been convicted.
Ii the state desires to punish a MUIR
derer it has better and more humane
way than to destroy life, said Mr.. Lee.
1t can shut him up and in a we'll
managed institution he can be no bur
den to society. He then reviewed in
caustic words the manner in which cap
ital punishment was revived in Mime
sofa. 1t was, he said. included in a new
penal code which was not read in either
house, and in that way enacted into law
without the knowledge of the people.
The speaker pointed out that the re-
sponsiblity for laws which authorize
the destruction of human life rested in
the legislature, not with Judges or
juries, who simply execute the law.
MI. Fletcher asserted there were sta.
tistics in favor of the death penalty
equally as strong as those quoted against
IL. He held where murder is commit
ted in cold blood the life of the muir
derer should be taken out of the COM
munity. Where there is any reasonable
doubt, it is in the power of the judges
to refrain from intlicLing the death pen
atty.
Mr.. Lee said, in answer to Mr..
Fletcher, he was not pleading for the
criminal so much as for society. To his
mind the taking of the life of MUIR
derer did not affect the criminal so dis
astrously as 1T affected society. The
force or example could not have any,
thing but bad effect on the rising gen.
Grafton,
Mr.. Blocker considered the bill hu-
name aud q Just measure, right in line
with the enlightened advancement of
the time. Judicial murder was too hor-
rible doctrine for him to subscribe to-.
lie hoped that never again would he
witness in Minnesota scenes such as
had attended the execution of the Bar
rett boys in Minneapolis.
Nr. Ives was opposed to capital pun
lshment. He did not believe the state
had right to take away that which it
cannot restore. Hanging was to his
mind reeking relic of the dark ages,
and should be abolished forthwith, in
the interest Of humanity and advanced
civilization.
Mr.. Walsh was also one who had op-
posed the bill two years ago, but he was
sorry for that vote, and felt now thor
oughly convinced that the bill should
be passed.
Mr.. Moore was glad to hear members
confess they had changed their minds
on this question. He instanced the case
OF the 4oungerS, and voiced the opinion
that the state Of Minnesota could now
view with pride its action in that noted
case.
P. H. Kelly said there was no time
when he had been prouder of his assO-
ciates than this afternoon. Capital
punishment was a reminder of barbaric
days which should be wiped off the
statute books. "While there is life
there is hope" said he, land l believe
the passage OF this bill would be bless,
ing to the people of Minnesota"
Judge Abbott heartily Endorsed the
sentiments of the gentlemen who had
preceded him for the bill. In touching
language he recalled the LEM case at
Mankato, and asserted that the alleged
murderer, now imprisoned at Saltwater.
is innocent. Closing, he vehementlv
eXhOrted the legislature to destroy the
statute providing for the death penalty.
Mr.. Wahlund again voiced his opposi-
ton to the bill, while Mr.. Holmberg
said he was ashamed to hear country
man of his talk in opposition to such a
measure. He hoped the bill would be
recommended for passage and enacted
into law as soon as possible.
Mr.. Bjorge closed the debate in few
well-chOsen sentences. Then the Wah-
luna amendment was Summarily voted
down and Mr.. BjOrge's motion to rec
oCmmend for passage was adopted by a
large majority. The committee rose
and its report was adopted
Mr.. Ives extended an invitation to
the house to attend the mass meeting at
Market hall which was accepted after
short debate, and the house adj
journed to 10 a. IN. today.
Action on Minor Bills.
House Files 495 and 500, Mr.. Hohps
bills TO abolish road overseers and to
improve and regulate highways, were
recOmmitted for amendment.
Ii. F. AGA, MIR. TurrelPs bill providing
for improved lOck-ups i'll villages; to
pass.
II. F. 666, substitute for Ii. F. 1872,
ll2 and S. F. 27. relating to payment OF
delinquent taxes and prescribing a
method for sale of lands and granting
certificates; to pass. This bill, it is
hoped, will benefit many of the north
ern counties. where the delinquent lists
are large.
H. f. 226, by Mr.. Fletcher, to legalize
sales of real estate by executors of eS-
tates of decedents made three years
after orders were issued by the probate
court; to pass. This Is curative act.
A PRISON INNOVATION.
The House Passes the Bill Pre-