New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-03
PUNISHMENT FOR TRANSFORMING.

PUNISHNEAT FOh ihiIN
The arrest a few nights ago within the linn
It's of Kansas City of m unconscious man Win
all the tran-robber's accoutrements, ana MS
subsequen, confession that he and his assocl-
ates had planned 10 rob train Only SIX mics
from the city calls attention to the astonishing
and increasing holiness of these land pirates
Some statistics recently compiled by me En-
press-Gazctte" of Cincinnati; show that III elgh'
years there have been 2lS 'hold-ups III 'he
United States, in which IS people were kiiied
and 81 were injured by shooting. THIS period
Il Is to be noted. begins with 1890. after the
extrpation of the most notorious gangs OF out
laws which fourished in some parts of the west
shortly after the Civil War In 1890 the mum
Der Of railroad "hold-ups' reported was only IL
but Il rose steadily until 1898. when 1t was 40
Decreasing to rs in 1896, it rose again to 80 IN
1897. The record for 1897 is 4 robbers killed
and injured, while passengers and tram
men were killed and were injured.
These robbpries were not confined TO the I'M
settled regions of the new West In fact the
older States Of the Mississippi Valley, where
civilization has long held sway. appear TO be
the favorite grounds of the robbers. In addi-
ton to the 80 railroad "hold-ups" 10 stage rob
berries are reported These 40 cases of violence
were distributed through twenty-One States ana
Territories Texas and Indian Territory had
4 each. Ohio. California and Missouri show )
each Indiana Illinois, Alabama, Oregon, New
Mexico. Wyoming and Oregon report , each
while each is set down to the credit OF Ten
nessee Nebraska. Minnesota Virginia. Wash
incton. Colorado, Nevada. Arizona ana okla-
boma. Thus 1t will be seen that 25-consid-
erably more than half-of the "hold-ups TOOK
Mace in States that were admitted to the Union
before the Civil War.
In marked contrast to this menacing situation
is the report from Mexico. which we are accus-
toned 70 regard as far behind the United states
as respects law and order. There only one at
tempt was made to hold up" a train. Inc
passengers resisted, and the highwaymen were
driven off. This immunity OF the Mexican
travellers is attributed TO the law placed on the
statute books at the instance of President Dlaz'
making train-robbery a capital crime ana the
result has led to the Introduction in the House
OF Representatives of bill ito define train
..wreclsing with the ntent to rob and TO pro-
wide the penalty Of death therefor
Such an assumption Of criminal jurisdiction
by the Federal authorities is justified as a
proper exercise of the right 10 regulate inter-
state commerce. Judge Grosscup In chicago
and Judge Ross In Los Angeles have held that
any person who nterferes with train engaged
in interstate traffic commits an offence against
the United States and Is subject 10 Federal Grim
inal law Such law. Of course. could nor reach
all possible attempts AT train-robbery, put most
of the trains which tempt the highwayman are
through trains which are subject to the protec-
ton Of The United States. Those who advocate
such legislation say that the crime cannoi ne
suppressed without Federal Interference. Inc
robbers often escape through wranglcs over
Jurisdiction when the crime takes place near
State line They frequently operate in poor
ncighborhoods. where the local authorities have
not the money necessary for an effective cam
nolrn against them, and in many cases they
also have the sympathy Of a considerable class
Of the community IN which they dwell and spend
their gains So il is extremely difficult 10 bring
them to justice.
Certainly something should be done to take
the reproach Of frequent train-robbIng from this
country Brgandage In Sicily and Greece and
n,racy on the Barbary Coast and In the West
indies were only another form Of the same
crime Land pirates are no better than sea
pirates, and should be treated no more enienty
We made war on Algiers and Trlpoli we hung
the sailors under the black flag; we should
STAMP out this new species OF outlawry with
the same iron hand. Perhaps the exercise OF
Federal power Is the best way 10 do II. 1t IS
certainly worth thinking Of But when the
punishment Of wrecking for robbery Is being
considered the question arises Why should the
vrecler for mischief or vengeance be more ten
dcrlv treated? If the man who Jeopardizes the
lives OF tranoad OF people for money is made
subject to the death penalty, or even TO some
lighter punishment. under Federal authority.
II Is difficult to see why the same deterrent
sbor,d NOT be aimed at the wretch who tries to
wrocl, q train from any other motive