The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-04-29
The 01lcial Paper Of San Juan County.
THE LAW INDICATED.

THE LAW INDICATED.
"Law," says Blackstone, els the en-
bodiment of the moral sentiment of
the people," Well has this sentiment
triumphed in the execution of Richard
H. Straub for the fiendish murder of
Leon Lanterman. There was never
any doubt of his guilt. He admitted
the killing and even gave himself up
for trial, presumably relying upon his
weak and inundated accompllce to
give such testimony as would enable
him to escape the punishment which
he richly deserved. But his associate
in the hellish deed turned against him
to save himself, under the promise of
the laws protection, and though poorly
defended fair and impartial trial
gave him every opportunity to show
justification, provocation or extenuat-
ing circumstances. Failing utterly in
all his efforts in this direction the jury
quickly reached the only verdict that
could justly be rendered under the
law and pronounced HIM guilty of
murder in the first degree. The newly
created board of pardons recommended
the communication of his sentence to
life imprisonment, but the governor
refused to interfere unless requested to
do so by the judge who presided at the
trial and the attorney who represented
the state as the prosecuting officer.
Both declined to make the request,
and for so doing they merit the thanks
of all law abiding and law respecting
people. An execution anywhere, and
especially in small community like
this, is not pleasant event to chroni-
Gle or to contemplate, but there can be
no doubt that in such case as that of
Straub it adds to the security of life
and property which it is the right of
every citizen to enjoy. Doubtless some
of the citizens of this county, and pos
sibly many of them, are opposed to the
uOoC1 pChs"ACy do CiAO PuAiSiluIChO III
any crime, but it is doubtful if this
sentiment is any stronger now among
people generally than it was half a
century or more ago. 1t does greater
credit to their feelings of mercy and
compassion than it does to their appre-
citation Of the sterner sense Of justice
which is the foundation of all law. In
England in the time of Blackstone,
there were no less than 100 different
actions which men were daily liable to
commit which were declared by act of
parliament TO be felonies without
benefit of clergy" or, in other words,
to be worthy Of instant death. The
more enlightened and humane senti-
ment of late years, however, has
wrought such change that the death
penalty is now seldom, if ever, inflicted
except for murder or treason. For
these crimes it is justly held that no
punishment can be too severe that is
not accompanied by the tortures that
were common in the middle ages, or
the refinements of cruelty devised and
practiced in Spain in the days of the
inquisition.
Milton, the great English writer,
went SO far in his support of capital
punishment as to express the opinion
that "He whose conscience thinks it
sin to put to death capital offender
will as oft think it meritorious to kill
u righteous person." This is an ex-
IRENE view, but there is no lack of just
such extremists even in our times. The
foundation of the law is certainly as
ancient as the book of Genesis in which
it is declared that "Who so sheddeth
mans blood, by man shall his blood be
she'd"
One cannot help regretting that the
necessity should ever arise for the legal
taking of a mans life, but when it does
arise, under such circumstances as
those surrounding the crime of Straub,
the safety of the state and Of society
demands that no feelings of commisera.
ton for the condemned be allowed to
set at naught the judgment of the law
and defeat the ends of justice.
Had Straub during his lifetime ex.
hibited in his every day intercourse
with his fellow men the same traits Of
manhood that he displayed upon the
gallows, he would not have committed
the crime for which he paid the forfeit,
of his life. The long weeks and months
of his imprisonment afforded him op
portunities for serious contemplation
and reflection which led him to re
nounce the infidelity of which he haG
been wont to boast and embrace tn.
nobler Christian faith which gave hin
the courage to meet death in the terri
BILE form in which it came to him with
out apparent fear or trembling, ani
with no words upon his lips except o
peace and good will to all. Let us Civ,
him the credit which is his due for tn,
remarkable fortitude which he dis
played in his last hour, and hope tina
no occasion may ever again arise TO
another execution in San Juan county
THE United States have expended
unon tho navy vifhiu tho moot Ar.