The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-05-15
Murder In Michigan.

Statistics, though valuable in various
ways, sometimes lie; but an approximation
of truth may be arrived at with certainty by
them.
President White, of Cornell University,
has recently given some startling statistics
relative to the number of homicides daily
perpetrated in this country, exceeding that
of an other civilized country on the globe.
He says that there will be- more than 10, 900
murders committed in the United States
during 1896, which is an average of upwards
of one every hour in the twenty-four the
year round. In no other civilized land does
our brothers blood cry so to us from the
ground as IN this, whether monarchy or
republic, and in no other country is the
right to life so trampled on by the privi-
LEGGED classes-privileged murderers; and
further, this awful deed while most fire.
quently perpetrated is least commonly pun
ished.
This is an awful arragnment and some
body is TO blame for a condition of society
which tolerates it. Hard times are always
productive of an increase in crimes of vari-
GUS kinds and there are plenty of people
who are considered fairly good citizens in a
general way who regard it no crime to steal
anything in the way of food when REQUIRED
to take the choice of begging it, and their
crime is winked at sometimes by people
who consider themselves strictly honest.
This is the class of philanthropsts
who make it possible for the 'privileped
class" to exist and from whose numbers
their ranks are recruited. Instead of learn.
ing early that crime is wrong in and of itself
regardless of punishment, children come I'M
frequently to consider only those offenses
criminal which can be, and are, sometimes
punished by law. This is the pivotal point
on which rests the failure of our entire GRIM
inal system.
Our own and only peninsula state stands
in the front rank on the list of murders and
they are rapidly increasing, so that it is fair
to PROFOUND the question as a state, where
are we at? By some unaccountable means
the legislatures of the state have for a long
time abounded in pseudo philanthropists
and indifferent legislators, who have pre-
vented the people from expressing their sem
timents while the state prison, which now
holds over hundred "lifers," is gradually
being filled to its utmost capacity. 1t is to
be hoped that the people throughout the
state will keep this thing n,mind while Sc
lecang legislators for the coming session.
Let us have no white-livered sentimental
ism exhibited nor any attempt to detract
from the deterrent effect of the death penal
ty by making it as soft and easy for the
murderer as possible. This sort of chaps
are not particularly kind and considerable
toward their victims, and if it was possible
to make an execution so horrible that it
would deter all murderers, SO much the bet
ter. But it isn't, and we must kill them
kindly If at all.
Another thing which goes far in prevent
ing the deterrent effect of punishment of
any kind is the long, lingering eternity of
time which lapses between arrest and final
conviction. Every large city has its great
criminal lawyer who is willing for money to
resort to any expedient and 20 to any length
in the defense of crime from wheedlng the