The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-16
CRIME RoUsEs FRANCE
CommutatioD of Death Sentence is
Criticised.

Communication Of death sentences in
France, and the increasing frequency
of attacks on the police, accompanied
by diminution Of other crimes Of. vio-
lence have brought the question Of
the punishment of violent crimes once
more to the front. The matter has
been debated on several occasions
with general and eincere intention
of profiting by the discussion; but so
often has the matter been allowed to
slide into oblivion-nothing coming Of
all the appeals for greater severity or
sounder logic In the application of
penalties-that 1t would seem raj to
predict a more appreciable result
from the present campaign. Never
theless, 1t Is so well understood that
the situation is more serious than
ever 1t has been, and the attitude Of
M. Lepine, the perfect Of police. is SO
energetic In this regard, that, more
than any earlier agitations. this
movement appears to have consider
able chances OF realization.
NJ Lepipe, who always has taken
such q personal and human interest
in the welfare Of his subordfnates.
recently criticised the leniency Of the
authorities in punish!ng criminals,
over the grave Of Pelletier, police
man who had been shot on duty. He
said:
"The drama Of which you remem-
Der the details--a madman playing
with revolver in broad daylight, in
the open street, careless of the death
that he is sowing here and there; po-
licemen putting themselves forward
to receive his shots, and worthy cit
izens and soldiers dlsarming him,
very Justly exasperated, and wishing
for revenge-this drama is sign Of
the times. What is meant by this de-
sire to apply lynch law? It is the
outburst Of the spirit Of profound
concern for the position Of the police
of Paris, who do battle night and day,
not knowing when they leave home
in the morning whether they will re-
turn to their family alive. It also Is
a tardy disavowal Of the stupid senti-
mentality which for twenty years has
done 80 much harm to our country,
and which in the end would entirely
remove the edge from the sword Of
repression. It is necessary to dis
courage crime by the perspective Of
punishment, and public security must
be assured"
It is generally believed that this
declaration is In the nature Of q re-
ply to the recent presidential DEGREES
which reprieved three condemned
prisoners within less than . week. At
the time that the application of the
death penalty in the case Of the mur-
der of Liabouf was under discussion
1t was generally understood that M.
Lepine had made the matter almost
q question Of confidence In his posi-
ton at the head Of Ihe police. but It
was hoped that the resolute action Of
the popular perfect Of police, who
frequently has stated that inapplica-
tion Of the law was one Of the chief
causes Of the Increased frequency Of
the attack on the police. would have
some effect in reducing the number
Of reprieves and limiting them to such
cases % where some cxtenuating CIR
cumstances could be shown. This
result, however, has not been appar-
ent. Parisians therefore are hoping.
though with considerable dindence,
that the renewed protest Of M. Lepine
will be more effective.
The application Of the death PEN
atty. however, 10 not the only ques-
tion Of debate. Several writer's today
take up the matter Of the punishment
Of habitual criminals. M. Gerault-
Richard. socialist, and by no means
q reactionary martinez, openly advo-
Gates the importation Of the hogging
system used In England. and the
Temps warmly approves the idea in
. leading article.
Gerault- Richard Gays the regula-
tion Of the sale Of arms Is pallia-
tive rather than Q remedy.
simultaneously tho campaign for
the better regulation of the sale and
use Of firearms 10 continued in several
quarters.
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THE WEATHER. |.
North Dakotas Partly cloudy
tonight and Saturday. Cooler to.
night IN northwest portion.
8 80 . = . siss sss