The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-11

IL this Inv shull be enforced, 1t will
do moro for tho cause OF Temperatures
than Il Statewide prohibition law. The
ordinance is based on a sound prin-
j ciple of law that man shall not use
anything In such way as to iniure
his neighbor
Treating makes many nun drink
when he does not wish to, and IL II
| shall he stopped 1t Will he just us we'll.
..-=---=----.-==..zs-. rNs
THE ETIQUETTE OF EXECUTION.
season to make their debut on the
treacherous platform beneath the gall
lows will note that there are certain
formalitlcs which arc observed In
many states and should insist that
their executions be carried out 10
mode.
\ In Arizona, handsomely engraved In
vitations are sent out to those who
will be present at the "shuffl!ng off"
Of prisoners The statutes OF
that State require such announcements
and declare that the district attorney.
/ physicians, and at least twelve reput-
! able persons, must witness the cXecu-
ton. No form Of Invitation is pro-
1 scrlbed by statute, SO In 1899 Sheriff
.Wattron, of Navajo county. was
/ thrown on his own resources, accord-
ling to Law Notes. and evolved Il neat
4 and tasteful card, which he Issued to
the persons required to be present. 1t
was:
l"Mr. ...
you are hereby cordially invited to
attend tho hanging Of ono George
/ Smiley, murderer. His soul will be
swung into eternity on December g.,
1899, at 9 O'clock j. NJ, sharp.
--latest improved methods In the art
of scientific strangulation will BIO en-
ploycd and everything possible Will be
done to make the proceedings cheer
( full and the execution o success
i After this invitation had been issued
and before the date set for tho eXccu-
ton. the Governor granted rcprievc of
thirty days to the condemned man. In
the proclamation of respite, the eXccu-
| tive sets forth his reason:
",rhe Sheriff of Navajo County. :. :.
has seen fit to publicly advertise
land issue cards OF invitation to the
| condemned In unseemly and nippant
/ language and in terms which have
brought rcproach on the good namo OF
this territory. ], therefore. deem it
proper in this connection to express
unqualified disapproval of such me-
thods so that the people of the United
states may know that trifling with the
/ dignity and solemnity of justice is not
tolerated in Arizona"
This procedure nettled Sheriff Wat
/ tron considerably. Undaunted, he
started to work on a new invitation,
determined to produce an instrument
of such solemnity that not even the
most careful critic could take excep-
tion to It, AT the proper time tho
new invitations were sent out. They
were contained in envelopes heavily
edged with black, and the invitation
itself was bordered with black lines.
The new invitation began with the
statement that the statute made 1t
obligatory on the sheriff to issue invi-
tations to executions, form (unfor-
tunateIy) not prescribed" The wording
was: with feelings of profound sor-
row and regret I hereby invite You to
attend and witness the private, decent
and humane execution of a human be-
ing; name, George Smiley; crime, muir
der
/ The further recital is made:
You are expected to deport your
self in a respectful manner, and any
/ .hippant' or 'unseemly' language or
conuuct on your part will not be al
lowed. Conduct on anyone's part,
bordering on ribaldry and tender
to mar the solemnity of the occasion
q Will not be tolerated.
1 At the conclusion of the invitation
the sheriff made his final jab at the
executive and at certain editors who
; had criticized him: Il would suggest
THAT a committee consisting Of Cover
nor Murphy, Editors Dunbar, Randolph
and Hull wait on our next Legislature
t and have a form of invitation to exc
cution embodied In our laws"
; We are not informed whether or
, not there is now an official form in
: Arizona, but there is little DOUBT tnat
{ only tho solemn style in conventional
3 The invitation is no longer Cordial
, ly' made, we suppose, and no refer
0 cnce surely Is made to making the
8 execution success" It the plan
4 suggested by the Hon. John NJ. Par.
, sons, late candidate for Congress In
the Fifth District, were to be adopted
namely that Of an individual Jail 70!
each prisoner--we should think tina
/, IAN execution could be carried out witt
great success. All OF the friends ant
relatives Of the condemned man coule
, be gathered together to see the execu
, ton, they would be received witt
! great ceremony by the near-departet
/, in his personal jail, and the gathering
would be very much like formal re
!, ceptlon. Unfortunately, tho plans o
MI. Parsons have been indehnitel,
postponed, owing to his own politica
execution.
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