Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-07-14
MAuDLIN sENrImENrALIsM

In the report of the execution of Philip Lashley, a Phenix paper eays:
 United States Attorney Ellin- wood, whose skillful prosecution of the case of Lashley in the shadow of the gallows, became as soon as the supreme court had passed upon the case, one of the most active participants in the plan for his re- lief. He never believed that Lashley should be hanged and he had prose cuted him for murder because the United States law at that time de fined only two grades of homicids, murder and manslaughter. He had hoped and expected that after the vindication of the law by the observ- ance of all forms of it up to the day of execution, the president could be induced to intervene and commute the sentence to imprison ment for life. On Thursday having obtained the consent of Chief Justice Baker, Justices Hawkins and Rouse and Governor Franklin to use their names to an appeal for mercy, he telegraphed the president asking Tor a communication. He then went to Tucson ond delayed the execution awaiting a reply. The reply came at last and the hanging proceeded"
 Just why the machinery of the law should be put in operation 10 convict criminals of their crimes, and the country be put to the sx- pense incidental thereto, and then as soon as the object is accom- plished, the paid officials should turn round and try to undo the lit- tie good they hare done is some thing beyond the ken of ordinary mortals. If United States Attorney Ellinwood thought Lashley should not be hanged why did he prosecute him for murderi As we understand the duties of an official, he is not required to violate his conscience by prosecuting a man for 6 crime of which he thinks he is not guilty l If Lashley's crime was not grave enough to justify the penalty i'm posed on him, why did not the United States attorney prosecute him for malicious mischief, or or some other charge.
 Every man who believes that protection should be afforded tC human life and who believes in thG punishment of murderers, and who has read the particulars of Lash ley's crime must admit that he did not get any more severe punishment than he deserved. Judge Bethune who tried the case refused to joiI Tn an application for commutatior of sentence, saying that the hanging of Lashley was only an act of sim pie justice. Commenting on tn, Lashley case, the Phenix Republi says:
 "The people of Arizona have rca son to thank U. s. Attorney Elliu wood for his efforts in securing | conviction of the murderer Lashley who was hanged Friday at Tucson They also have reason to be thank ful that MT. Ellinwood was unsuc cessful in his efforts to secure { communication of the deeth sentenc, to life imprisonment. The hanging of such individuals as Lashley shoulC be considered a positive help to anl community and will doubtless hay, wholesome effect upon the lawles inclined throughout the territory It is to be hoped that ID such fool ish sentiment, such as was notice able in the Lashley case, will ,ela, the execution of the train robbe and murderer, Parker, now undr sentence of death at Prescott. Jus tice demands that Arizona be ri, for good and all of such character as Lashley and Parker, and tha there be no more life imprisomem sentences for people of their ilk."