The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-21
He Tells Why He Thinks Capital Pun
iShmcnt Should Go.
IT HAS no DETERRENT EFFECT
History Of the Past Shows That 1t Is the
Certainty OF Punishment, Not Its
Severity, That Restraints the
Criminal Class.

scarcely give his views upon the SUBJ
ject.
aside from any consideration of
morals or ethics, which is not without
great weight" said Mr. Amerman, II
desire the abolition of 1.-The death penalty
for three reasons. Hlrst, it will lessen
the commission of crime: second, it VIII
improve the administration of Justice;
and third, 1t will tend TO promote good
order in socistty. If its abolition Sc
cured any one of these ends it should
have the support of thinking men.
The experience of centuries has
shown that Ut Is not the severity of
punishment, but it's certainty that de-
tiers the evil doer Prior Ito 1888 coming,
forgery, horse stealing, sheep stealing.
larcenies above Is in dwellings, and
house breaking We're felonies in Eng
land punishable by death. 1t was urged
that the abolition of the death penalty
for these crimes would tend 10 demoral-
lie society, lessen restraint upon the
vicious and weaken the administration
of justice In the debate upon the bill
abolishing the death penalty for these
causes Lord Chief Justice Ellenborough
uCSislI GU. IL NIlG ilileul VI lOIlS
from a dwelling house Is not punishable
by death the property of every house
holder in the kingdom VIII be left
wholly without protection,
Reduction in Crime
The death penalty was abolished.
The commitments for these crimes for
three years Immediately preceding the
abolition were 4.724, while the commit
merits for the three years immediately
succeeding its abolition We're 4,292. The
commission of these crimes was re-
duced by the abolition of the death
penalty. Lest, however, it be said that
this result was not due to the abolition
OF the death penalty. but to the gem
eral Improvement in the character and
morals Of the people, comparison of
the commitments for crimes for which
the punishment by death continued, W.:
murder arson and robbery, for the same
years shows that for the first three years
lhere were 2,136, and for the second
three years there We're 2,247 an increase
or these crimes notwithstanding the
supposed deterrent effect of the death
penalty.
y
ton OF the death penalty and the substi-
tuition of milder penalties for the pun
ishment of crime has been followed by
decrease of such offenses and in
creased convictions for the offenses
committed
The revision of the criminal laws of
the several states in this country, which
mas been going on during the last CEN
tury, has been followed by like results
as to homicides as we'll as minor crimes
Michigan led in 1S47 with total aboli-
ton. In lS4S her life convicts consti-
tuted III per cent. Of her prison popu-
latlon. In 1884, as shown in the official
reports, life convicts had decreased to
foWy-three hundredths of per cent.
of ner prison population.
Rhode Island abolished the death
penalty in 1852 and Wisconsin in 1853.
Iowa abolished 1t in 1872. when her
homicidal crimes averaged one in SOO.-
600 of her population; after six years
under this beneficent law her homlcidal
crimes averaged only one in 1,2OO, 900
Of her population.
Only Two Executions Since.
Then, in a general revision of her
criminal Laws, she gave to iurles the
right to af1iX the death penalty or i'm
prlsonment for life for murder: and
since then she has had but two execu-
tions, but homicides have increased
faster than her population, so that the
wisdom of repeating her excellent law
Of 1872 is not apparent.
Maine had for many years practiced
aboiitlo of the death penalty. although
its provision was retained i'm her laws,
which required year to elapse be-
tween conviction and execution, and
then to be ordered by the governor.
The provision for execution was not
mandatory, and few executions were
ordered. In 1876 her leglsture abolished
capital punishment In 1883. moved to
action by the maddened passion of a
life convict who killed a keeper i'm
prison, her legislature restored the death
penalty by a barely constitutional vote
in each house. In 1887 her legislature
again abolished the penalty with a two
thirds vote in one house and a three
fourths vote in the other.
"In 1882 there We're committed in the
United States 1,467 murders. OF these
murderers but 12lw were executed. In 1891
there were committed in the United
States 5906 murders Notwithstanding
| the supposed deterrent effects of the
death penalty. OF these murderers but
123 were executed. In other words, but
Spercent of the murderers in 1882 were
executed, and but two per cent. of the
! murderers in 1891 were executed. Juries
have practically abolished the death
| a ..N.
Is brought into dispute. The law is
held in contempt by the people. The
deterrent effect of certain punishment
| Is lost Severe penalties defeat Justice
What II Means.
1.-THE vicious are encouraged in their
| wick edness. Crime increases. Laws
not approved by the judgment of the
| people cannot be enforced under our
form of government. The defeat of law
| in its enforcement In but a single case
tends to decentralization and lawless-
ness. Abolish the death penalty and
here, as elsewhere, the administration OF
justice will be improved and the safe.
ty of society will be increased.
! "a dlsrespect for law and a contempt
| for the administration of justice always
and everywhere is destructive to good
order An society. A penalty not re.
pugnant ITO the better judgment of the
educated conscience and the humane
feelings of the people can be imposed
certainly and speedily.
Its imposition will deter the evi
minded and begeIt such a respect fol
law and the administration of justice
as to make 1T a conservator of Ithe
peace.
with no unjust sympathy for the
evil doer and a firm belief that crime
should be certainly and speedily pun.
ished, 1t is my mature Judgment, after
years Of thought and study upon this
subject, that the abolition OF the death
penalty Is demanded by every consid.
Il