The Indianapolis journal., 1896-05-17
THE INCREASE OF HOMICIDE.
Appalling statistics-Fnlse Sentiment
Against Capital Punishment.


The clergymen of Charlotte. N c., and the
surrounding country took a step on recent
Sunday that may we'll serve as an example
to ciergymen In other districts where lynch
sion of the appalling extent OF this form of
lawlessness. they devoted their sermons to
a denunclation of it. X would doubtless be
appalling prevalence of homicide in general
throughout the whole country The statis-
ties of crime published by the Chicago Tr.b-
une every year, and the recent lecture of
DR.. Andrew ID. White, ex-minister to Berlin
and st. Petersburg. on the increase of muir
der. make 1t imperative that public sentiment
United States in 1895 at 10500. The increase
during the past seven years has been so
great as to be almost incredible, the number
in 1889 being 1851. The total number during
this period is 1862 which is an increase
from 5S 10 155 in the million OF population.
Taking these figures as a basis of a
coming year: To-day, this 10th day of
April, 1896. / announce to you that there
in the year which begins this day over ten
thousand persons, who will be executed
murdsroqsly. cruelty, without opportunity
opportunity to make provision for those
depending upon them: and all Of this null
ere oF VIII 6e nu TO es Wnuf tho
slightest regard for the fearful distress and
sorrow, and, IN many cases: beggary OF
aiT murders Will be due to this easy going S
maudlin sentiment in the community at
large. niscalled mercy, but really most
fearful cruelty"
But, shocking as this presentation is and
adequate as ii should be TO evoke the most
powerful sentiment against this prevalence
of the spirit of murder, there are other
figures that show with the same impress
iveness the need of such sentiment. They
relate to the inadequate punishment of
homicides and the abnormal exercise of
executive clemency." While murders have
shockingly increased, the number of legal
executions has steadily diminished. In 1890
ecuted; in 1895 only one in seventy-four
At the same time there has been an in
crease of illegal executions. that is to say.
against 1872 legal ones. The aversion to
capital punishment does not explain the
immunity of homicides from all punish
ment. OF the AZ, 900 homicides that have es-
capped legal and illegal execution during the
past six years only 7,3o1 are in prison. The
rest are at large ready to repeat their
crimes. Is II any wonder that some Gym
ical judge once exclaimed that "the taking
of life for the highest crime after due pro-
cess of law seems to be the only way of
taking life TO which the average American
has any objection"
Even when murderers escape from the gall
from life to few years, society has 'irs no as,
surance that they will be called upon to suf-
fer the milder penalty pronounced against
them Owing to the lack of a powerful
public opinion against the practice, Gov
ernors are too prone TO accede to the re-
quest of the multitude of petitioners that
any criminal, however odious, appears to
be able to get presented In his behalf. DR..
White mentions the case Of Governor Tay-
Tor, of Tennessee who went out Of office in
1892. One of his last acts was to pardon
eighteen men, several of whom had COM
mitted willful and brutal murders. During
the four years that he served as Governor
he pardoned sol men. the list of whose Of
fenses includes every crime in the calen-
dar" But Southern Governors are not the
only offenders. DR.. White cites acts of Gov
ernors of Illinois, Michigan and New York
During the last month Of Governor Hills
term Of office ne pardoned fifteen men from
prison, and during the last day Of his term,
six, two of whom were murderers serving
life sentences.
The creation of proper public sentiment,
a deep, determined, fruitful indignation to-
ward wrong and crime" such as President
Woolsey sought to arouse In his sermon on
righteous Anger, would produce the most
bring to end that repulsive sympathy for
murderers that takes the form of floral con-
tributions to them and notes OF maudlin SYM
pathy. In the second place.. 1t would make
impossible the getting up of monster petit
tions like that in behalf Of Bat Shea,
persons. In the third place, the executive
power would feel 1t incumbent upon ii to ex-
erciSe cemency very sparingly. In the
fourth .lace. there would be a reform of
sible for men guilty Of murder TO escape
upon technicalities. In the fifth place, the
creation of a proper public sentiment would
effect general curbing OF the homocidal i'm
stinct. And, finally, it would furnish a nee
essary basis for those preventive and re-
must always be founded on righteous but
not revengefui Justice