The evening times., 1900-02-08


/ reverses somewhere.
The Death Penalty for IncorriEibies.
a hook has recently been written By Mr.
Duncan McKim advocating q somewhat
radical and startling method of dealing
with criminals Mr. McKim has arrived at
his conclusions after hong study Of the
causes OF crime. particularly as they are
involved ia problems of heredity; and ne
is strongly opposed TO what may be- called
sentimental philanthropy sort OF emo
tionalsm which so shriuks from infictng
pain that Il allows abuses to go on and
cause infinitely more pain for want OF
decisive and stern legislation. He adyo-
4 Gates the establishment Of death chambers.
in which incorrigble criminals shall be
. executed by painless and gentle process
T probably by the use OF carbOuiC acid gas.
lie would also extend this treatment TO the
hopeIessly insane and imbecile who may
come under the care OF the State. His
argument is that such treatment should
b be called meTcfW rather than cruel iuas-
much as IL removes from the world per-
sons whose lives are burden TO them
! selves and a mischief TO others and pre-
vents the continuance OF diseased and en-
feebled families.
! n such a measure should ever be Re,ualiy
proposed in Nmcri,a-and there is not
much doubt that something of the kind
Will come up for discussion in course Of
/ time-thcre would probably be- a liveHer
argument over it Than about anything
which has attracted popular attention for
many years. Iu such discussion two dis
tiuct schools of thought would be- repre-
ssnted the humanitarian and the scieu-
tiGc; and there would be IN both schools
variations in every direction from the main
theory. IT IS impossible 20 say what the
result would De-. for this would depend
on the time. manner. ard cause Of the in
7 PRODUCTION Of such a measure. Az present
10 would certainly De defeated by popular
sentiment which could easily be- excited
against ir and there would be a certain
justice I'm such a verdict. However wise
= such plan m. .ght De theoretically. in prac-
/ tica il would be- liable Co some abuses. and
az the presen, time these abuses might be
so numerous as to Oyerbalcuco the bene-
fits
It is easy to sre what arguments would
be presented against this plan lt would
undoubtedly be said that We have mo- right
TO take life except in punishment Of capital
crimes that This plan Is practical re-
version TO the old criminal code OF Eng
land. which was notor.ousiy Intellectual in
preventing crime, thar with such law
IN iorce l' would BE- almost impossible TO
get an inleihseni 1urE TO convict man.
since so many people are PFrIodieea against
eapl'aI punishment even now. ana ihat the
result would thus be the acquittai OF the
most dangerous criminals just as murder
efs are no" SEA- lfee ON the ground OF In
sanity IL would also be argued that the
children OF the poor when imbeeiie epHep-
tic. or predisposed to insanity. would bs
put TO death. being charge on the state,
while the equally vicious and Questionable
offspring Of rich sinners would continue
TO exist and the argument thar The ,rimi-
nal should De allowed 10 live out his
ALLOTTED term OF years I'D order to save
ms soul would nave considerable weight
Win many people ihere is also az the
present .'ine' a strong ieeiiHE that erimi-
'''S "N5"' "o' TO De treated haT7hIy. since
I'e'' n'oi'7 are largely due To conditions
io' "H''u 'ues may not De responsible,
anu 'ii-1 p'l9OuS sNolIu De reiormatory
rather '"'n Pun'ufe' ID snort the whole
ol s'l-EeAl lhousht ih TINS
country al present IS toward the abolition
u Iiiuie "S humane ttlner than marsh
i"e'DouS' anu 'o HosI people Jhe death
penalty seems the extreme OF harshness.
II 'ne ueSth chamber were made the
neS'iii''io" OF lulDeclies ana incurable
'uD'''19 ,ie'e eoO'" also oe chance that
''-7 'ii0us persons Noulu seize lhls OPP
'Iu' ~ se' .il Oh neiFs 70 property
1''' oi' people VINO might be
'''' O'''u penal'F' Il
-, 'O's III ''seli' or
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