The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-21
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Rochester Post Express.

Rochester Post-E Express.
The death penalty is inflicted for mur-
der in all the states and territories Of
the United States except in Colorado,
Rhode Island, Maine, Michigan, and Wis
consin, but in Kansas there can be no
execution without the formal permis-
sion of the governor. We know of no in
stance in which a state has abolished
capital punishment and then returned
to it. In several states the death pen
atty is inflicted for crimes other than
murder. In Louisiana for assault with
intent to Kill, arson, burglary, admins
tefing poison, and assaults on women; /;
in Delaware and North Carolina for ar
son, burglary, and assaults on women;
in Alabama for arson, robbery, treason,
and offences against women; in Georgia
for mayhem, arson, and assaults on wo-
men; in Missouri. for perjury and as
saults on women in Virginia. West
Virginia, South Carolina and Mississippi,
for arson and assaults; in Florida, Ken
tucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Arkansas
for assaults on women; in Maryland for
any variety of arson. In some of these
states the court may substitute imprison-
ment.
The last statement that we have seen
regarding the death penalty in Europe Is
the following:
Observation-Disclosures 1874. Since re-
instated by two or three cantons.
Prussia-From 1SG9-7S out of 4Si con-
demned to death only one execution Clio.
deb.
Portugal-Capital punishment abol-
ished.
Roumania-Abolished.
Tuscany-No execution for fifty years.
Russia-Capital punishment retained
only for treason and military insubor-
dination.
In these countries the death penalty
| is in use so rarely that it may almost
be said to be discontinued:
Austria-From 1S70-79 of sec death
sentences, 1G executions.
Norway-From 1SG9-7S, of II sentences 3
executions
sweden-From 1Ss9-7S, of 80 sentences 8
| executions
| Belgium-No executions since 1865.
Number of murders ten years before,
92l; ten years after 703.
Finland-No executions since 1921.
! Murders extremely rare.
HOlland-Capital punishment abolished
! 1870, with decrease in murders, despite
Increase of population.
1t is becoming more and more difficult
| in this country to secure convictions on
| the charge of murder. The number of
| murders in 1852 was 1867, with l2l exc
| cutions. Since then there has been a
steady increase in the number of mur-
! ders until these have exceeded six thous-
and in a single year. but there has been
almost no increase in the number OF
/ executions. While the population was
! increasing 20 per cent, the homicidal
crimes were increasing 400 per cent. And
! 1t is a fact that the lynchingS in the
! United States exceed the legal eXecu-
/ tions In 1897, for example, there were l6G
/ lynchinGs and only 12S legal executions,
/ The legal executions in recent years
/ have been as follows: 1884, l2S; 1895, l22i
/ 1895. 1872; 1894, 1872; 1893, l26, and 1892, 107
/ The legal executions in 1897 occurred in
! the following states: Georgia, Is; Nir'
Ginia, 6; kentucky, (; Missouri, s.
/ North Carolina. 4; Alabama, 3; Arkan,
sas, ,; Maryland, 2; Louisiana, 5; New
Mexico, 8; Texas, s. Mississippi 2; Ok
! lahpma, /; InGian territory, ?; Tennes-
see Z; South Carolina, .: West Nir'
! Ginia, 1: Florida, 3; Delaware, 3; Cali.
/ fornia, .; New York. z; Illinois. s; Min
| nesota. /; New Jersey. 3; Ohio, 4; Wash,
| i2gt0n, .; Idaho, 2; Indiana, /; Oregon
.; Connecticut. 3; South Dakota, !
! Pennsylvania, 4; Nebraska, l.