Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-11-03
NO DEATH PENALTY.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT AGAINST ITS
EXECUTION IN MEXICO.
Many Years Have Elapsed Since
Q Capital Punishment Was Last
Melted Out in Some Mex
lean States.

OAlcSs lnOie OOCulS SOlnt CutCh ID TIE
growth OF the feeling OF Revision
against capital punishment, the next
generation in Mexico is likely to CLEAN
ali its information regarding that inter-
probation OF justice that demands a life
for a life from history or from reports
OF executions in other countries.
In Mexico City, states the Mexican
Herald, it has been 10 years since the le-
gal execution of private citizen has
taken place. In Monterey it has been
nine years: In other states years have
elapsed since men paid the penalty for
their crimes with their lives. In the
courtyard OF Belem the wall against
which the condemned men were stood
is SCARED with bullet marks, but pris-
oners have ceased to regard it with the
terror they once might have felt and
prison officials have fallen into the habit
OF regarding it more or less of a.curios-
lty rather than as part of the working
machinery of the institution.
The last time prisoner was stood be-
fore that wall was following the famous
assault of band of robbers on jewelry
store in Plateros street. The place was
looted and the proprietor. an old man.
was murdered at a time when the street
was crowded. One of the robbers was
Bruno Martinez. His execution was
probably one of the most sensational as
well as the last that was ever witnessed
IL Mexico. He had secured knife. and
at the hour Of his death ran amuck.
wounding the chief of detectives and
creating almost panic before he was
finally overpOwered and forced to re-
ceive the bullets of the firing squad.
Merely taking advantage of the op-
portunities offered by law. serves 10 en-
able the condemned man in Mexico 10
escape death for many months. but after
every appeal has been taken it is a ques-
ton OF communication or execution. Pos
slbly no man condemned to death can
rest with assurance that by exercise Of
oflcial clemency he will escape death.
but il is doubtful if there is an attorney
IN the country who would not feel almost
confident in the end he could obtain for
his client a Communication of the sentence
to 20 years Imprisonment.
+ This condition of affairs is due large.
ly to the feeling in the matter enter.
tanned by the chief executive but a few
years ago there was issued in this coun
try flood of literature giving the ar.
gument against capital punishment
These works were widely read. and the
sentiment thus created has doubtless
done much toward reducing the number
Of capital punishmeuts.
As long as capital punishment is au-
thorlzed by the laws of the country ii
ls'probable that the method of execution
Will be shooting. This method of legal.
ly sending a soul into eternity is one
thai causes the people of other countries
10 shrek with horror, but after all there
probably has never been suggested 2
more humane means Of ending the life
ora man. II there can be assurance thai
the men with the rifles shoot straight
there can be little doubt that death will
be as nearly instantaneous as that pre-
scribed by any other method.
Certainly at the time Mexico adopt.
ed the method of shooting il was an i'm
provement over the garrote-a device
not worse and not better than hanging
II merciful executioner stood behind
the post. But not every executioner in
the days when the garrote fourished
was a merciful being. II was the gar
rote the Spaniards brought to Mexico
AS long as they retained their power
here 1t was the common machine of exc.
cutlon. On the retirement of the Span
iards the firing squad took the place of
inc executioner and their rifles the place
of the garrote.
Execution of soldiers for infringe
ment on military discipline are still.not
uncommon. but even executions of this
class are more rare now than they once
were. and it is-not impossible that the
Gay may come when it must be an ex-
ceedingly grave and atrocious crime
that will bring for the perpetrator
whether civilian OF soldier. a heavier
sentence than that which can be given.
within the prison walls.