The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-30
the next breath he called the big bridge
the "yiadock. -
THE FOSTERING OF CRIME.

In confirmation of the universal OK
perience that death has terrors for the
capital criminal that restrains his hand,
and in support of the same propoSi-
tion, we wish to add TO what VIC said
| yesterday on this point, the testimony
of DR.. A, Il. Rykert, Of Paris, France,
who made a pleasant call upon The
Tribune yesterday. in company with MIR.
Charles Reed Of this city DR.. Rykert
explains that something like three years
ago there sprang mp i'm France
sentiment that the guilotinc is II sur
viVal of the dark ages, unfit To bo
brought into the public service in this
enlightened age, Accordingly, in re-
spopse TO the public clamor TO this ef-
feet, the death penalty for murder
was abrogated in France and the gull
lotine relegated 10 disuse. But inside
of eighteen months the death penalty
was restored, on the universal demand
of the nation, and eight convicis whose
lives had been saved through the
abolition Of the death penalty, were
put under the guillotinc within three
days of the restoration of the death
penalty. During the time of the abo-
lition, murders increased some thirty
per cent, and wave of homicide
spread throughout France, sweeping
over every province. This subsidized at
once upon the restoration of the death
penalty.
1t only needs to be added that this is
the common experience of mankind.
The fear OF death is the great deterrent
Of murder Even the desperate
criminal Driskell. sought with anguish
to receive some assurance that he
would be saved from death for his
atrocious crime. The same is true of
the murderers of FasseIl; their great
the eXecutioucr. There is not the least
reason TO doubt that lenity 10 criminals
breeds crime. Our own experience here
is ample proof of it. And that this eX
perience awakens public indignation
there is ample proof In support of it,
we submit the following pointed letter
on the subject:
Salt Lake City, Utah, March 90. 1910
Editor Tribune;-Permi, mo to add a
few lines 10 your timely editorial in this
morning issue relative to the preVen-
ton OF murder and outlaWry in this city
The murderers OF Grocer FaSScll were
caught ed-nandeds there is no doubt In
any sane mind OF their guilt. Here Is an
opportunity for some wholesome railroad
ing. which Will be more impressive upon
outlaws and intending murderers than
triple our present police force would be.
What is the matter with trying them
AZ once and shooting them next week?
This would let desperadoes know that
Salt Lake is not a healthy place for
them. and crime would diminish.
Admitting that our police force is too
small, what inducement has a police Of
hcer for doing his duty? Officer Riley.
in the line Of duty, was shot down. and
a mushy jury asks mercy for the muir
derer. II he is granted his life. that jury
will be the murderer of the next police
man who is shot Tho jury that saved
Shockleys worthless neck cannot hold
itself guiltless Of crimes since committed.
with all the sorrow and anguish entailed.
Perhaps such juries and the courts that
heed their merctful recommendations are
mere egotists. and imagine that they cX
hibit laudable tenderness of heart,
What mercy do they show for the law
abiding citizen, who. finding il necessary
to be away from homo after dark. knows
not whether he will return home alive or
not? What mercy, If he is waylaid and
shot. for his loved ones who are the VIC
tins OF maudsin court and jury?
In this last case, If we are TO Judge
from the past, six months or year VIII
have elapsed before uncertain justice
weak jury will recommend mercy for the
murderer. this time. because of his youth.
Meanwhile, other murdcrers Will take
courage,