Evening star., 1909-07-08
DEATH FOR K|DNAPERS
Penalty in District Under Pro-
posed New Law.
WHEN RANSOM is OBJECT
Life Imprisonment Where Conceal
ment Is Abductor's Purpose.
BILL IN COMMISSIONERS HANDS
Suggestions Invited From Citizens
by President Macfarland-Cor-
poration Counsel's Report.

Death or life imprisonment for the
kidnapping or confining of any person in
the District against his will for the pur-
pose of extorting ransom and life inn
prisonment for kidnapping child under
the &c OF twelve years for the purpose
of concealing the child are the penalties
provided in bill introduced in the House
nv Representative Rodenberg of Illinois,
which has been referred TO the Commits
sioners for A report.
The bill provides in the first section
that whoever in the District of Column
bia wiIlfuly and without authority forci-
bly, takes or carries or entices away any
infant under the age of twelve years
without the consent of the parent, guardi-
an or la wfuI custodian OF such child. with
intent 10 conceal or imprson such in
faut, or whoever willfully and without au-
thority conceals or imprisons infant
under the age of twelve years. without
the consent of the parent, guardian or
lawful custodian of such infant. shall,
upon conviction he imprisoned in the
penitentiary sfor his or her natural life,
or for any number of years.
The Death Penalty.
Section of the bill provides that
every person who shall wilfully, unlaw-
fully and forcibly seize and secretly con-
fine within the District of Columbia, or
take, carry or send or cause to be taken,
carried or sent out of the District of CO.
lumbia any person against his will or
against the will of the parent, guardian
or legal custodian of such person for the
purpose of eNtorting ransom or money Or
other valuable thing or concession from
such person: and every person who shall
inNeigle, decoy or kidnap, with intent Sc
f.ratiN W
Columbia. or take. carry or send or cause
to be taken, carried or sent out OF same
any person against his will or against the
will of the parent, guardian or legal Gus
todian of such person for the purpose OF
extorting ransom or money or other val
liable thing or concession from such per-
son, his parent, guardian or legal Gus
todian, shall, upon conviction, suffer
death or be punished by Imprisonment in
the penitentiary for life. or any other
term not less than five years.
Commissioner Macfarland, who is con-
sidering the bill. referred it to Corpora
tion Counsel Thomas. The Districts
legal adviser first pointed out that sec
ton ST. of the District code provides:
Whoever unlawfully and forcibly or
fraudulently carries off or decoyS out of
the District any person, or arrests Or
imprisons any person with the inten
tion of having such person carried out
of the District, shall be imprisoned for
not less than one nor more than seven
years. or fined not exceeding $1,000, or
both Provided, that whoever leads,
carries or entices away a child under
the age of sixteen years, with the in
tent unlawfully to detain or conceal
such child led, taken or enticed
away, shall be imprisoned for not more
than twenty years or fined not exceed
ing $1,000, or both"
Amendment Suggested.
The corporation counsel then says:
Section of the proposed act deals
with extortion of ransom, money or other
valuable thing.
1.-The first part OF said section So deals
generally with the intention of having any
person carried away, arrested or i'm
prisoned.
The latter part of the same section re-
fers generally to leading, carrying away
or enticing any child under sixteen years
of age.
The whole act might be framed to en-
body the offenses mentioned in said sec
ton Sl2. as well as the offenses created
thereby, and then passed as amend
ment to section ST. of the code"
Commissioner Macfarland announced
this morning that he would consider any
suggestions by citizens respecting this