Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-09
MGRATH'S MURDERER rs COLD
BLOODED AS M'klNLEY'S
d'rom the Rutland Ncws)

G'rom the Rutland Ncws)
The MESSENGER of st. Adams concludes
n discussion of the punshm mt If the
murderer of Policeman James McGrath
of Burlington as follows:
IF tho advocates OF capital punish
ment can explain why 1t is ;hat the
demand for the life of a murderer is
always hcrccst Immediately after his
crime. at the scene of his crime. and
among those most intimately connected
with his victim, that may he able to
disabuse a great many minds of the
docp-Soatod impression that the de
mand for capital punishment has It's
origin and its pcrpotuation onlv in the
natural human passion for hlood-ven-
Ceancc although many thoughtful
men sincerely believe in the Death
penalty without being conscious of
yielding to such an gnohe impulse.
But tho impulse is there and mani
tests itself every now and then in un-
guarded moments whom somebody
says that Hanging is too good for
him Docs the phlanthropic desire
to protect society or the natural hu-
man passion for revenge inspire such
sentiments"
The feeling that tho death penalty
should be inflicted with all possible speed
upon the cold -bloodcd, deliberate lnur.
dcrcr may not have any spirit of revenge
to it-and for the most part W, do rot
believe 1t has. II is prompted by three
motives. for the most part: Deterrent
to Others who may have murder in then
hearts To- protect society, and, thirdly
that tho man guilty of murder has for
fcited his own right to life.
The last is IN no spirit Of revenge
the most painful duty for the State tc
perform is to infiict this maximum pun
ishment-albcit entirely deserved.
Capital Punishment has not been in
hictcd in this State in many years fol
the reason that tho processes of Law
are so numbering, and people are quick
to forget heiuous offences against the
peace and safety of the commonwealth
II the murder of Mckinley had occurred
in Vermont. his cold-bloodcd ASSASSIN
would have been alive to-day-unloss tn,
people and courts and governors hac
pursued Ii courS" Inconsistent with al
| their recent line of action.
And the murder of inconSpicuous Police
! man McGrath WAS lust as coll-bloodeC
as that of William Mckinley.
WARNING TO TRAMPS.
(From the Brattlcboro Reformor)
Tho tramp" who sends us an anonY
mously eXubcrant postal card protest ii
| answer to our anti-tramp editorial o.
burlington Free Press as a Dcmai
worthy OF his steel The Free Pres
| argues that tramps have n better know
| ledge of our highways than any othc
| class of people; that they have ncve
| helped any in the Improvement IF thu
| rOads-whch they ought to do-thcrc
| fore the Legislature should establish al
| open season for the capture of tramp
| to be put at work on the highways,
| doctrines like these continue to he prea h
| ed in Vermont. along with the goo
| roads demand. tho state will soon lie NJ
| fit abiding place for our friend OF tn
postal card and others of his ilk
SOARING SOMEBODY.
(From the Londonderry Sirer)
We are told that If Stanton or Bel
| is nominated there will be bolt. Dl
tell! Trying TO scare somebody again
| Ell?
Listen to the ringing OF the Bell.