The Bessemer indicator., 1894-03-31
CRUELTY IN HANGING.
PRESSING NEED OF A MORE
HUMANE METHOD.
rhs Gaiiows Gradually Growing to He Re-
rHrd-d ~ . Relic Of Barbarism-Terri-
BILE Ago of the Gibbet In England
Death by Electricity.

To legally put a human being TO
death is at all times an awful, but
perhaps necessary performance. but
II it has to be done. then let it bo
done with infallible certainty and
swiftness lhe Chicago Herald
thinks that 1t is about time that
every civilized nation which deems
it wise to retain the capital punish
mont should seek the best means for
obtaining the desired result 1t is
very curious indeed to note how gin
gerly this subject is treated. no mat
ter where it is brought up for legis-
lation. There are very few people
who care to identify themselves with
any laws touching on this grewsome
topic. which, nevertheless, Is very
important one. In France there are
many who advocate the introduction
OF suffocation as the best and surest
method OF taking life, the sugges-
tion being that the criminal to be ex-
ecuted be first put under the inau-
ence of a strong opiate and in this
condition sufIocated by means OF
gasses.
In England there has been bin
before the house of parliament for
several years looking to the abolish
ment OF hanging, but as yet no action
has been taken in the matter and no
substitute offered. There is
no country which so tenaciously
clings to its old cruel criminal laws
as does England. 1t can truly be
said that it has been the hangman's
paradise. II the number of execu-
tions be taken as an evidence as such.
Many are the grim Jokes recorded
that bear an illusion to the strength
of the rope 1t frequently happened
that when the convicted man mounted
the gallows he remarked to the
hangman that he hoped the rope was
strong enough. 1t must be smooth
and strong. he said. because II it
breaks with my weight will
fall to the ground and become a
cripple for life. To the time
honored. cruel jest the hangman
was wont to assure his client that he
might take the risk with perfect
confidence.
In merrie old England they were
not satisfied with the brutalizing
hanging with plain cord. Even in
the beginning OF this century they
still were accustomed to hang men
in irons or chains, When it is known
that the law of hanging
in irons was enacted in 1877 and re-
mained in full force till 1852. when
by royal decree it was abolished or
how fond John Bull is OF old as
sociations. The custom OF thus dis
posing of criminals obtained even
later.
In France the gallows was feudal
right which could be passed to lesser
vassals by the owner OF the privi-
lege. Voltaire, at his estate, Fer
uey. had several gallows to which he
often alluded. Once he maze very
ghastly speech about them. saying to
his friends, among other things, "1
have as many gallows as would suf-
flee to hang half Of the monarchs in
Europe, and half Of the monarchs in
Europe deserve no loftier position. :"
The French did their hangings on u
very generous scale. lie Due men
tions particularly the enormous gal
lows OF Montfaucon, 1t was built
like huge warehouse having but
three sides. The fourth wall was
omitted to permit "freedOm In hand
ling the condemned" Wide plat
forms reached by stairs ran the en-
tire length of the various stories
The walls we're pierced by huge win
dow-like openings. each provided
with half dozen iron hooks for the
accommodation OF an equal number
OF victims. The designer of this in
famous structure had provided an
enormous vault in its center into
which were swept the thousands of
half decayod skeletons rs they fell
from their iron hooks. We are told
that in those days they hanged n
man with less conpunction than
they killed sheep.
In England they were 10th to give
up hanging in chains. Petitions for
the restoration of this punishment
were actually received within the
last two years. There are many who
believed that criminals stood in
greater awe Of this punishment than
shat Of any other. The idea of being
gibbeted was ever very terrifying
one to the condemned. and many
strong and hardened criminals who
have received their sentence with
out exhibiting fear have broken