Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-02
PUNISHMENT OF KIDNAPERs.
Laws Providing Adequate Penalties n
National Need.

San Francisco Call.
Regularly with the assembling OF the leg
islatures OF the eastern states there comes
a revival OF the question of the advsablity
Of establishing the whipping post as a
means of punishment for certain crimes
which in the estimation of some people
are inadequately dealt with by either fine
or Imprisonment That discussion is now
going on at lively rate in the east owing
to the fact that in Delaware, where the
pillory and the whipping post are used as
punishment, there is agitation to abolish
them; while in Connecticut, where they do
not exist, there is a movement to establish
the whipping post II not the pilory.
The question has had a new interest
added to 1t this time by the suggestion
that whipping be used as a part OF the
punishment provided for kidnapping. As
was pointed out by The Call Immediately
after the Cudahy kidnapping case in Omaha,
the existing laws do not adequately pro-
vide for the punishment of that offense,
In nearly ever state efforts will be made
during the present session OF the legisla-
ture to remedy the defect and consequently
in the east that issue has naturally be-
come involved in the whipping post dis
| cuss!on.
Judge Baldwin OF Connecticut has strongly
advocated the adoption by that state OF
the whipping post az punishment for
kidnapers who carry off children with the
| intent to eXtort ransom, and in de-
Tending his proposition is reported to
have said: What are the objections
| to such penalty? That II would be in =
human? There is nothing inhuman in using
| reasonable severity to punish physical out
RACES, 1t is society striking back at the
/ ic he
natural impulse Of every man to meet force
| by force. That 1t would be unchristan
For an individual to right his own wrongs
| in such way perhaps might be, but the
| duty OF the state TO punish criminal wrong
| doers with the heavy hand is nowhere pro,
| claimed more explicitly than in the new
testament. That It would degrade the kid
naper? Degrade him from what? What 1,
| his station now? Who is lower baser
meaner, than the scoundre who steals away
a child to extort money for his ransom
| That 1t IL going back TO the dark ages
! For some things we may well go there ant
get light"
sidelight upon the question is thrown
| by reports that the whipping post in Della
ware causes all the criminals OF that STATE
who. II convicted, would be subject to It, tC
leave Delaware and live in Maryland. Tn,
report has stirred up the Marylanders anC
they are now asking one another whether 1
! would be better to aid the movement fo
suppressing the whipping post in Delaware
or to establish one in Maryland, and 81
drive the criminals over the border int
! Pennsylvania
Whether the whipping post be established
or not, it is certain something should b
done for the punishment OF kidnapcrs, |
Is not likely the Cudahy AFFAIR will stan
long as an isolated case. The success of tn
criminals in obtaining a large ransom an
getting away will be sure TO encourag
others to initiate the example, and as
consequence some htting punishment 70
the crime should be provided this winte
in every state where the legislature is Il
session,