Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-07
Capital Punishment and Kefor ma =
tiOu

ono of the objections to carital punish
ment which are already being suggested in
connection with the case of the infamous
Mrs. Rogers. the BcnninGtun murLrrcSs,
IS that the execution of person for the
crime of murder prevents the rcforma-
ton of the criminal Even if this state
merit were correct, many people would
not accept it as Il valid artumcnt against
the execution Of a h,irous offender, who
in the most cod-bloodcd, deliberate and
treachorous manner possible murders y
husband or Il wife.
We believe the records will show that
more conversions have been notod in the
case Of murdcrors just previous 20 being
put to death. than of persons sentenced
to life imprisonment for the shedding of
human blood. We frequently read of con-
days to the contemplation of the future,
ana who are finally moved to accept the
consultations of religion as they approach
the brink of eternity If many murderrrs
are reformed through life Imprisonment,
very little is heard of such cases.
Be this as it may no murderer or muir
deress in Vermont can complain that
ample time for reformation is not al
fordcd between the date of sentence and
the date Sc; for execution of the SEN
tcnco. The law has interposcd a long
| delay, and as Il matter of fact it Is so
| long that the public has time to forget
any abhorrcnt crime. or at least to be-
| i
give the offender every chance to secure
| legislative clcmency, with the practical
certainty that some soft-hcarted governor
will sooner or later turn the criminal
loose rom prison on the public The
time which elapscs between sentence and
execution must be peculiarly favorable to
serious thought and if a person is at ali
capable OF reform, the last days under
the shadow of Tho Glllows or tho Nortri.
chair must move on" to think of prepare
tior for the future.
Even if the ralows or tho electric chain
is not to be regarded as an incontiV" t.
conversion and reformation it is not 81
certain that Imprisonment under cAist
ing conditions is so much If ar improv"
other hand We have positive testimony
that imprisonment has hardened man,
persons sent to the pcnitontiary for lcs!
offences than murder. 1T is stated, fo
example. that the four young men re
Gently arrested for tho commission e."
numerous murder and o,hc. or meg ii
Chicago w-rc sent to prison for petit,
thieving and through association will
hardened criminals they were So thor
oughly debascd that they Wcr, ready 70
any decd of violence when they regainc'
f upliol almost without number.
| This being the case, it is evident tina
prison reform still has important wor'
to do before oar ponitcntiHrieS can b
: treated as sure rciormatorios for nun
/ d.rcrs and murdorcsscs Of mature year.
However, if Mrs Rogers does not tull
- realize tn" error of her ways during tn
, coming year and more. tho chances ar
Q that She would r"vcr reform during
= life devoted to schcmng to secure cXccu
y tive Clemcncy.
@ IN the meantime We must bear in min
: the short notice which the victims q
f the murderer or the murdcrcss have I
) prepare for death, as Il rule, and rcmcm
= Ter that others nave souls to save as We
: rs the houd VINO has learned to murdo
. fellow men in cold blood.