Evening journal., 1903-06-11
HAD NO PREFERENCE
BETWEEN JAIL AND DEATH
District Judge Comments Oh
These Remarks Made by
a Prisoner

Macon, Mo-, June 9.-Gordon G Ramey.
who is in jail in Lancaster. charged with
the deliberate murder of his twenty-year-
old wife, Noreh, because of jealousy. said
to his attorney when they asked him
whether he would rather hang or go to the
penitentiary for .lfe:
Just as you people say; to me it's
stand-off."
The district Judge. \. NJ. Shelton. lives
at Macon. II VIII be his duty to pass SEN
tence upon Ramey. When ahe remark
quoted reached Judge Shelton ne said;
That's what he says now, but wait.
Men don't want 10 die-oxcept in novels.
There the hero can afford to be Indifferent
to danger because Ire knows that If the
right son. Of author has hold of him he
will get through somehow and live happy
ever after.
But ordinary humankind wants to live
as long as the blood of life and health
flows. There are no two sides to the sub
ject While a spark Of intelligence exists
in saint or sinner life is the dearest thing
there is II is the law Of natures God.
Il don't know this young man. but I'll
wager a lot he doesn't repeat that remark
to me when the time comes. I've seen too
many such cases.
Il was a member of the Missouri Senate
in 1883. The capital buildings and peniten-
t7ary are at jefferson City. A Bapisst
preacher. a Bald Knobber named Sim
mons, 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 Imprisonment for
life. saw phe old man as he was dressed
in the penitentiary. His face glowed with
pleasure.
Some one asked him how he felt. He
responded with a quotation he had doubt
less used many time in the days before
he went to the bad
-" Glory to God feel just like I'd been
born againr
Life 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 I was the representative Of my
county at jefferson City saw two other
men right after their death sentences had
been commuted TO life Imprisonment by
Gov. Marmaduke They had been con-
victed of an atrocious murder in Henry
county.
They came to the penltentary with
faces beaming like Those of men going to
the wedding altar. They shook hands with
everybody they met, laughed, cried and
acted deliriously happy.
Recently had the disagreeable duty OF
sentencing J. NJ. Robertson of Adair coun-
ty to the gallows. Before his conviction
he boldly proclaimed his preference for
death TO a term in the penitentIary.
when the jury took him at his word
and fixed his punishment AT DEATH mis-
nerve failed. lie begged his lawyers to
abandon the appeal and to implore the
Governor for a commutation to life in the
State penitentiary.
The man is, apparently physical
wreck. and 1t looks as if life would have
little attraction for him, even if he gained
his liberty. Yet with all the strength Of
his mind1he wants to live.
These are not peculiar instances 1t is
simply THE longing of a normal mind. 1t
Is not cowardice ITO dread death on the
gallows.
Men who have regulations for marked
bravery in personal encounters will be-
come absolutely terror stricken at the
thought Of such an end. Those who naunt
their indifference to it will change when
the shadow gets closer. God evidently
intended that expiation at the laws hands
should be a terror, and such 1 believe It
will ever be. Cursed is every one that
hangeth on n tree D."