The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-02-21
MONDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1910.
OCCUPANT UNINJURED BY
DELAY"

OCCUPANT UNINJURED BY
DELAY"
Under the above caption the
Wilmington Star says:
The News and Observer prints
what is called an open letter"
from one J. B. Stokes, of Wind
sor, protesting toGovernor Kitch-
in that he should commute the
sentence of the convicted rapist
Morrison, by reason of the delays
occasioned by the failure Of the
penitentiary authorities to pro-
vide the death chair for his exc
cution. The letter reads:
my Dear Sir:-In the name of hu-
mainly, civilization and good govern
ment, l call upon you to commute the
death sentence of the negro rapist
Morrison, l believe is his name) to
life Imprisonment. He is now confined
in the State prison awaiting death for
the fourth time. Poor wretch. He has
suffered more than death four times,
all because the great State of North
Carolina failed to be in readiness to per-
form its duty in the first instance. l
believe, sir, that this would be the no.
blest act that you will ever be called
upon to perform. / believe, also, that
all creeds, colors, races and political
parties in North Carolina would COM
mend YOU
So much cf the letter as is in
criticism of the delay in equipping
the death chair" finds ready
echo from the stage at large.
The other and psychological mat
ter suggested is not so clear. Of
death it is probably true that the
natural shrinking and anticipa-
ton are more to be feared than
the actual pangs of dissolution.
We do not see, however, that to
a sensitive soul life Imprisonment
is any the less cruel-more SO in
fact. To a man of fine sensibili-
ties, the repeated delays might
have been in the nature of a tor
ment in the face of an entire
want of hope. Morrison's crime,
howe yer, is such as to preclude
the idea that he has any sensibil
tiles beyond those attending tn
peculiarly physical functions
Doubtless he fears to die, bu
with equal certainty to a consti
tuition such as his a delay i
merely so much gained. In tn
matter of negro criminals, VIII
gain peculiar exaltation an
comfort out of execution, tn
death penalty, it is true, is ope
to doubt as to it's efficacy as
deterrent. Electrocution may
on account of its strangeness, b
hetter than hanging, which ha
reached the point where to vii
tins of Morrison's class it too
rank as sort of distinction pc
tanning to a quasi-official soci
function. AS rule the execu
ed negro has died both proud ar
happy on the scaffold.
Our Wilmington contemporary
remarks are in line with VIII
the Robesonian had to say abo
this matter a few weeks az
but of course we are both wron
This DELEGATE souled creatu
should be provided with all
delicasies that it is possible
procure; 2 bed of down should
provided on which he may Il
his weary head after the 10
day of contemplation of his ;
preaching dissolution is done;
should be provided with garme
Of finest weave, for Of cou
coarse garments are torture
his tender flesh even as the
lays in his execution have b
torture to his refined soul;and
penitentiary authorities she
be charged to see to it that be
lest airs and highest tasks be
portion, that the wind of hes
visit not his cheek too roug
Why the very nature of
crime which was but the
of long record of crimes
proof positive to any descer
mind that Morrison is a crea
so highly-strun9, so highl,
ganized, so delicate, so ref
so cultured, creature so en-
ly mind and soul, that the
temptation of what he must
suffered when four several t