New-York tribune., 1905-02-06
DEATH PENALTY For THLM
NOrrray Excludes Ministers from
the Benefit of a Ne5o Lac.

Norway has just abolished the penalty Of death
for an Ministers Of state. This discrimination
against them seems al first sight extraordinary
and yet reflection it is. sitter all only natural
that exception should be made where they are
concerned. For whereas ordinary crimes and
,elopies for which the death penalty Is usually
inflicted IN other countries are perpetrated against
ane OF AZ tie most against a few citizens IT is
aossihle fer Cabinet Ministers TO commit offences
against tse state rhich by eInbroilinR the nation
"a u.s- r1ay entail the death of thousands the
oss q serit9ry and all the horrors of foreign IN
zasion. II s rightly felt that no imprisonment
however severe. would be adequate punishment
for such a crime. especially If Il partook of the
nature Of betrayal and Of treason, and it is for
this reason that the law abolishing :he death
-,enalty il Norway extends to every man. woman
and child except to Ministers OF state.
There are only TWO other countries where the
death penaty has been abolished in Europe name
~ italy and Russia In the Muscovite empire.
INDEED the death penalty has been removed from
.l,e statute since the reign OF Catherine
the Great. But this concerns only criminal pro-
oedure and that is why nihilists usually tried
lv military court martial the death penalty haY-
ing been retained by The sTuy and navy. There is
10 difficulty about this for several decades the
Greater portion Of Russia has been subject tc what
= known as the minor state Of siege" which
admits Of the application OF military law po-
1iticsl Offences Neither in Russia in Italy does
he law sboIishing the penalty OF death in ordinary
criminal procedure make any exception for the
ministers of state, and Norway enjoys the dis
rtncton Of being the first nation thus TO discrimi
nate against them
Il IS popularity believed that the death penalty
Las been abolished in Belgium This, however. is
nog the case. II stin figures on the statute book
But King Leopold who this year viii celebrate
he fo-tieth anniversary OF his succession to the
throne, has, in Difference 10 deathbed entreaty
q his mother. dead for more than half CEN
ru-y invariably declined 10 put his signature 10
The warrant for tie execution OF condemned pris-
sners and in consequence of this they be
Put Death.
THE PRINCE" WHO SOLD THE vELAsoUEz
The General de Bourbon CSstelvi. who sold tc
he Museum Of Fine Arts in Boston Velasquez.
he authenticity of which is disputed is neither
Prince" nor Duke of Anjou." and has been for
hidden to use either Of these titles under the pen
aIty of being deprived Of his rank retired off,
Ger Of the Spanish army. He is not unknown in
his country having married. in 1877. in New-YorH
his first wife. rich Cuban heiress, Dona Marie
della Tore d'Amanderos. who died about ter
wears afterward. whereupon he married the wealthy
daughter Of a Hebrew banker ct Madrid, who be
came converted 10 Catholicism in order to render
the match possible
These two marriages have had the effect OF plac
ing him beyond that want TO which ne was sub
1scted in his younger days For it was in the win
Of 1872 that he reduced TO such extremit!
Paris that he found starving in the streets
actually begging and was forced to spend TIL
night among the tTamps and vagrants on tn
benches Of the Champs Elysees. Fortunately fol
hin. be was recognized by q CarIst nobleman, VIII
took compassion his suferings. and recommend
ed him 10 Don Carlos, al that time recruiting ad
herents for his last insurrectiOn. Don FTenci
Fought under the orders OF Don Carlos throushou
the rebellion and AT the close transferred hi
sword like many another Carlist officer. to the lat
King Alfonso XII. who gave him q commission IL
ais own army
He is OF that Infant Henri de Bourbon who
after being Tilted in his youth by Queen Isabella
OF Spain. ultimately shot and killed in a due
at Madrid In 1870 by the late Due de Montpensier
The Infant Henri married lady OF noble, but no.
OF royal birth namely. Helen di Castelvi the
Alrnznach de Goths describing the unicn NOR
gznatc. as which Il is regarded at the courts Of
Madrid and Of other monarchical countries. Tbs
consequence is that neither the late King Alfonso
nor his widow. Queen Christina. while regent, nol
the present King has permitted the SON
OF the Infant Henri and OF Dona Helen Castelv
% style themselves princes TO the titls
Of Infant" and Don Francis has accordingly beer
obliged content himself with the dignity Of
brigsdier general Of the Spanish army. having like
wise been forbidden style himself Duke Of An
jou" 70 maintain his ridiculous pretenson Il
Ihe throne OF France. the of which he as
su-ed. and the other Of which he proclaimed at on
tine. on the strength Of being great-grandsoI
CT KING Charles V Of Spain.