The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-04
CRIMINALS NOT
PUNISHED ENOUGH
MINNEAPOLIS POLICEMEN WANT
sEvERER PENALTIES.
Chief Doyle and Others Say Highway
Robber Should Be Imprisoned for
Forty Years, He Being the Most Dan
gerous Of Criminals Slow Present
Laws Work.

Minneapolis policemen are generally
in favor of the two bills before the
state legislature increasing the penalty
for safe-blowing and highway robbery.
In fact, altho more than a dozen of the
best officers have been interviewed on
the subject, not one has been found
who is opposed to the heavier penalties.
opportunity for the court or jury to
make an exception with a man who is
convicted Of his first offense into which
he was drawn by others.
1T think the increase in the term of
Imprisonment would be good thing
said Police Superintendent Doyle.
6 The sentences given to convicted Grim
mails are, generally speaking, too light.
It results simply in shutting the man
up, for a. time but does not have the
deterrent effect. upon prospective Grim
inals or professional criminals who con
template operating in the state.
81 think it would be good thing
for a highway robber to give him forty
years in the penitentiary. He is the
most dangerous criminal we have. He
will commit murder if necessary. Last
January Patrolman Conroy arrested a
negro for holding up two women: He
was sentenced to the penitentiary for
three years and one Of the women is
still i'll from the nervous excitement Of
the hold-up." .. -@
II think forty years>is short enough
for a highwayman,' said Detective
Thomas Gallagher. cit has been but
a short time since murder was com
mitted by hold-up men in this city. That
shows what those, fellows are ready to
half SO bad as the highwayman, besides
we are not bothered much with them in
the city. That law is more for the bene-
fit of country banks. -
"I'd rather see ten safe-blowers get
free than one highwayman,' said De-
tective Percy De Laittre. IT think
forty years for a highwayman is short
enough. In Illinois they give them life
Imprisonment, and I think it has a good
effect upon prospective highwaymen.
Opposes Pardoning Them.
81 am in favor Of long terms for all
criminals said Detective George Ba
han. "And then enforce the sentence
Don It pardon man out right away, but
make him take his punishment.
"Forty years or life imprisonment is
what highwayman Deserves said De
tective John Stavlo. "Twenty years
IS plenty short enough for a safe
II think the bill providing for {
minimum sentence of twenty five years
for safe blower is good thfiing,o saie
such high explosives that they some
times wreck a building and might xii
people who are asleep in the uppe.
stories. Of course the bill is better fol
the country districts than in the city
for it is there that the yegmen work. ;
! think there ought to be claus
o1or>, 4N <i1O
into the crime,'' said Captain Henr,
Getchell. II would rot, like to see, i
/ fixed so that the Judge. would be-. com
: PEELED to send the MAN up for twenty
!, five or fortyyea ears ithout. taking int
consideration any alternating circum
stances. A clause which would ALLOW
the jury to recommend lighter sen
tence might be a good thing
"Forty years for hlghWaymar
; twenty-five for a .safeblower and
! habitual criminal act allowing a priso
sentence for man who has been thrie
, convicted Of a misdemeanor would fl
= us out in nice shape" said Patrolma
! Tony Conroy.