Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-05
The Death Penalty and its Results.

try are discussing the opinion OF Mr..
Thomas A. Edison, as quoted In re-
cent issue of Harper's Weekly tha'
.electrocution is ten times more excru-
eating than the feeling that results
from :,lacing ones hands OH live Goals.
Naturally Mr.. Edison's prominence
40 an original investigator OF electrical
science gives exceptional weight 10 MS
views. Still it must be said that much
evidence has been presented TO snow
that he is in error in the above stated
assertion. This testimony comes
hief1y from linemen who have sur
yiyed shocks involving heavy voltage
and who state that unconsciousness
came instantaneously and paiiiless'y.
This is the best testimony That can be
obtained on the subject, for the cleo
trocuted never return to give us ac-
counts of the sensations of dissolution.
If these sensations ere of the excruci-
;.ting character asserted by Mr. Edison.
the fact remains that in most instances
they have been of exceedingly brief
duration. There have been, however,
,t least two electrocutions in Ohio and
three i'm New York where, either
through the bunSlinS of the officials or
the superior resisting powers of the
condemned. the application of the Sec
ond voltage found the victim, to all APP
rearances, still alive and exhibit
ing signs of the most horrible
agony. III two cases it is claimed,
on good authority. that the poor
wrctchcs in the chair were literally
roasted 20 death:
But why should society seek pain
less methods of execution if the sole
purpose of the extreme penalty is to
act as a deterrent upon the criminallS
disposed? This is certainly the only
advantage that its advocates nave ever
| 10 Ell able to suggest over imprisoh-
| rncnt FOR life II it is to be maintained
for its tcrrorzing influence why not be
logical and surround the infection of 1t
with all the horrible Drutalties that
attended it in the dark ages OF when IL
is a relic: 1t is not singular thlns
that people who vchemently protest
against the barbarity of the whipping
Lost are capable of maintaining a cal
Ious Indifference while men and wo-
men are tortured into eternity. Where
| in are TIE rack or the thumb screw less
brutal than the gallOws or the electric
chair? 1t is strange that society VIII
not be hoaest with itself. II the pub
lie press was a fair reflector OF pubic
continent the overwhelming public
sympathy of the people of New YORK
with Nan Patterson in her recent trial
was due not 50 much tC a belief in her
| innocence as to the fact that back OF
her loome,l the revolving spectre OF the
death house and the electric chair.
| still the people whose combined feeling
made up this public sentiment are the
.oyer.iGns of New York state. with
Fpower to change the organic law Itself.
| If the method of inflicting the death
penalty is to be determined solely by
| the question of the physical pain III
| iiicted upon the condemned, then, ac-
cordiing t. the best authorities. the
SPANISH garottc and the French gull
lctine-the two concededly most repul-
sive forms of exccution-have decided
advantage over the Sallows or the cleo
tric chair. The state OF Utah cOnsid-
crs itself specially liberal i'll the
| ..privileges' it extends by statute law
10 a condemned murderer for it per-
mits him the gruesomc choice. of be-
| M, hingc,i. shot or beheadcd.
Nothing becomes more apparent to
the student Of criminal statistics. both
past and present. than the fact that
the death penalty is not and never has
teen an adequate puni 5hmcnt foi capt.
tai or othe: offences. Crime never was
so rampant in old England as it was
during the period when a hundred and
thirty two different violations OF law
we're punishable with the death penal
~. Statistics covering the United
States for 1904. which have recently
come from the press show that the
states where capital punishment was
i'm force had the largest percentage OF
murders durips the year. and that, ow-
ing largely to the difficulty Of securing
convictions under such law, small
er percentage of the criminals were
brought to justice. 1;le total number
Ct murders committed IN this country
during 1904 WAS S,4S2. The total num-
her OF legal executions was only 1l6. In
other words only one murderer out OF
every % was made to suffer the SUI
IRENE penalty of the law,
Is there not food for reflection in
these figures, and do they not show the
fallacy of the Oft asserted claim that
ca Dital puuiStmcnt acts at a deterrent