The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-27
To Bring About Legislature Will Have 10
Pass a Special Bill.
WILL APPLY TO THOSE CONVICTED.
There Are flfb-Nine Now in The penitsnllap, and
II the Measure Is Adopted They viii
Be Strung Up

Topeka, Kan, Dec. Glowing to ex-
citement over the case of John Collins,
the divinity student convicted Of hav-
ing murdered his father, j. S. Collins,
| last May, to obtain his life insurance.
SO prisoners may be hanged. There
has never been legal hanging in Kan
sas. Capital punishment is not pro-
hibited, but the law is worded that a
person convicted OF murder in the first
degree is confined in the State peni-
tentiary for one year and then hanged
when the governor signs the death war
rant.
With the exception of Governor John
! w. Leedy, the present incubent, every
Kansas governor has been opposed to
capital punishment and has refused to
sign death warrants, as the law makes
his signature optional. The number of
prisoners under death sentence in the
State Pententiary at Leavenworth has
accordingly accumulated until IL is 80.
At the beginning OF his official term
Governor Leedy declared himself in
favor of capital punishment, and eX-
pressed the hope that the law would
be changed to compel governors TO
! sign death warrants OF persons con-
Victed of murder in the nrst degree
to put his views to the test, but his
nerve failed, and the prisoner entered
upon lifSs term of Imprisonment.
Governor elect Stanley, who made his
campaign on the enforcement OF all
laws, will be inaugurated I'm January
next committee called his attention
to the promises of his campaign and
informed him the people We're expect
ing him TO sign the death warrant OF
young Collins.
He declared he would never sign a
death warrant so long as the law left
ii optional.
He promised, however. that in his
message TO the Legislature he would
recommend the passage of a law max
ing IL mandatory on the judge who
pronounces the sentence to sign the
death warrant at the time so that the
execution shall take place Immediately
after the conviction and sentence.
Public sentiment has been so aroused
over the Collins murder, however, that
this evasive promise was not consld-
cred satisfactory, and the special ses-
sion Legislature has taken up the mat
ter. The populist caucus has appointed
n committee to draft bill making IL
mandatory on the part OF the Governor
TO sign the death warrant OF any per-
son convicted of murder in the hrst
degree and compelling the governor
holding ONCE AT the liIile Vi lne pass
age of the bill TO sign the death war
rants Of all prisoners now confined in
the state Penitentiary under death SEN
tence. If this bill passes 1t means the
immediate execution of 50 prisoners.
When seen Governor Leedy said he
would not oppose such bill and In
the event OF it's passage would sign it,
Il am i'm favor of capital punish
ment." he declared. and believe ii
ought To be made mandatory by law
II a majority of the 165 members Of
the Legislature see fit to pass such a
bill will not place any personal feel
ings against a wholesale and public
hanging match against their Judgment.
Il will sign the bill and see TO Ii that
its provisions are carried out. / be-
lieve the law ought 10 be made ter
ror TO evil doors. Under the present
system. murderers do not fear very
much. as they know that the worst is
only a life's imprisonment, where they
will get better care and better fare
than they ordinarily get on the outside
OF the prison walls.
ITO check crime properly, law must
be made severe. Object lessons, like
the execution of young Collins, would
have wholesome effect
Probability of the passage of the bill
has aroused the women of the Woman S
Christian Temperance Union, and they
already are organizing a strong lobby
tO work against IL.