Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-21
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Executive Clemency Has Prevented It
 Among U. S. Soldiers.

Washington. D. C., Jan 21.-In the war department the statement was made Saturday that no soldier of the United States since the beginning of the SpaniSh-American war has Suf- fered the death penalty for either mil itary or criminal otfenses.
 This news will cause surprise in view of the general impression that several military executions have oc cured in the Philippines. It is true that ill many cases soldiers have been convicted by court martial and sen fenced to death. but in every instance the president has extended clemency.
 This has not met with the approval of the war department, where the idea prevails that good discipline requires punishment at times, but the presi- dent in each case has found cause for saving the life of the convicted sol dier, and he is likely to continue that policy unless some case of a particu- larly atrocious character arises.
 President Mckinley's mail was food ed with letters and telegrams just be- fore the holidays demanding clemency in a suppoSititiOuS case which involved the death penalty. Newspapers pub lished the report that Leonard Skinner of Company D. Forty-third volunteers, was to be shot on Christmas morning in the Philippines for sleeping on his post. The soldier had been sentenced in August, 1900, to four months i'm prisonment for quitting his post. So many of these appeals came in that the president asked the war depart ment to answer them. and several hun- dred copies of q blank form were sent concluding with the statement that since the Spanish war began no sol dier had been executed.
 In connection with this determina- ton Of the president to avoid tho car rying out of the death penalty. an ln- cident of AIr McKinley's recent illness is recalled. The day the president was at the worst stage of his illness. when he was unable to leave his bed and hardly able to raise his head from the pillow application was made for the communication of the sentence of death imposed on Charles McUin of Washington D. C.. for murder. The execution was to occur on the follow ing day. Mitigating circumstances had been discovered. The president examined the papers. sat up in bed and signed tile order committing the sentence.
 The war department has been i,A formed of the trial by court martial ill the Philippines of Private PasQuale Tuozzo. Company C. Thirty second volunteer infantry, who was convict cd Of the murder of Private William kilpatricl- of the same company, and was sentenced to be diShonorably dis charged. to forfeit all pay and allow ances, and to be confined in tho Bllll- bid prison, Manila, at hard labor TOT nincty-nine years.
 Adjutant General Corbin received cable message from General Mac Ar thur Saturday saying that First Lieu- tenant John Morrison. Jr, Fourth cav airy, was killed near Gapan, Saturday. No particulars are given. but it is sup posed the officer was shot from ann bush while he was away from his company. Lieutenant Morrison was q native of Iowa, and was graduated from the Military academy ill June, 1896. He was assigned to the Third cavalry and served with tha! regiment in the campaign against Santiago.