The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17
THE DREAD or THE GALLONS.
Experience or Missouri Judge with Men
Condemned to Death.

MACON. Mo, May 9.-(iordon g. Ramey.
who Is in jail in Lancaster, charged with
| the deliberate murder of his twenty-year-
| old wife, Nocah, because Of jealousy.
! said to his attorneys when they asked hin,
whether he would rather hang or 90 to the
/ penitentiary for life
| Just as you people say; to me It's q
stand-off."
| The district Judge, n. NJ. Shelton, lives at
Macon. II will be his duty TO pass sen
tence upon Ramey. When the remark
quoted reached Judge Shelton he said:
That's what he says now, but wait.
| Men don't want to die-except In novels.
There the hero can afford to be indifferent
| 10 danger because he knows that il the
! right sort Of author has hold Of him he
will get through somehow and live happy
| ever after
| But ordinary humankind wants to live
I, as long a. the blood OF life and health fowr
There are no two sides 10 the subject
or sinner life is the dearest thing there il.
I II IL the law OF natures God.
Il don't know this young man, but III
wager a lot he doesn't repeat that remark
10 me when the time comes. I've seen
| too many such cases.
81 was q member Of the Missouri Senate
in 1889. The capital buildings and peni-
preacher. Bald Knohher, named Simmons.
had been sentenced to death for murder.
he was regarded as courageous to the point
of recklessness.
AT the last moment the Governor COM
muted the sentence to impriso nment for
life. l saw the old man as he was dressed
i9 the penitentiary. His face glowed with
pleasure.
Some one asked him how he felt. He
responded with quotation he had doubt
less used many time in the days before
he went TO the bad:
born again"
"Iife had come back to him and it was
overpoweringly sweet. He had nothing
TO look forward to but grim. incessant toll
under hard master. through all the years
to come. But he would live, and he was
profoundly grateful therefore.
when was the representative OF my
county at Jefferson City ! saw two other
men right after their death sentences had
Gov Marmaduke. They had been con
vic'ed of All atrocious murder in Henry
county.
They came TO the penitentiary with
faces beaming like those al men going TO
with everybody they met, laughed, cried
and acted dcliriously happy,
NRecently had the disagraraEle dut, Of
sentenoing,J. NJ Robertson Of Adair county
to the gallows Before his conviction he
p'NHs piVS uiS pftleINHht IOI i'd'H
10 a term in the penitentiary.
When the jury took him at his word and
fixed his punishment At death, his nerve
failed. He begged his la wyers TO abandon
the appeal and to implore the Governor fer
a Communication to life in the State peni-
Tertiary.
The man is, apparently. a rhysica
wreck, and it looks as II life would have
little attraction for him. even if he gained
his liberty. Yet with all the strength ~
his mind he wants 10 live
These are not peculiar instances II is
SIMPLY the longing of normal mind. II
Is not cowerdice to dread death on The
gallows
Men who have regulations for marked
bravery In personal encounters will b.
come absolutely terror stricken al the
Thought Of such an end Those who haunt
their indifference to it will change when
the shadow gets closer, God evidently
intended that eSpiation az the laws hands
shouid be terror, and such | believe II
Will ever be. Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree"