The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-06
I|DEATH PENALTY
PAID in RUSSIA
Executions Are Not Decreas
ing Fast in That Country
MILITARY COURT SUPREME
DIR. wines of Philadelphia Tells of PEN
nIties Under Russian Law and Says
Crime Is Decreasing In the
United States
MILITARY COURT SUPREME

Washington, October 5.-Russia is far
behind other civilized countries of the
world in the matter of decreasing the
number of death sentences, according to
statistics given to the international
Prison congress at its session today by
Dr. Frederick H. Wines of Philadelphia.
I'm no country does the frequency and
enormous number of executions excite
such horror as in Russia" said d..
Wines Nowhere else is there waged so
determined and unceasing war against
the employment of capital punishment
for the suppression OF crime. This is the
more worthy of remark in view of the
fact of the penal code limits, in its appli-
cation to political offenders. And yet,
in view of the system by which offenses
not political can be punished by martial
law. even in time of peace, the number
of executions is truly extraordinary
"The civil administration can at it's
discretion, take any case away from the
jurisdiction of the criminal courts, In
which action is brought. and the ac-
cused are then summoned before mill,
tary tribunal, which can return SEN
tence of death, which must be confirmed
and may be set aside by the commandant.
His power in the premises is absolute.
From his decision lies no appeal.
THE official statistics show that in
1eo6-19os, 210S persons were legally exc
cuted. So at least it is stated in one of
the manuscript /eports placed in our
hands. In anoYer, the number of mill
tary executioJZ in "a years, from 1875 to
1908. is given at 2s7s, of whom 10 per cent
only were VI the army. 240 of them were
civilians; and 2400 were punished for In
fraction of the common law In the foui
years, 1905 to 1908, 22ss individuals were
executed The number of accused who
were removed from the jurisdiction of
civil to that of military courts in single
year was in 1908. 7o1S."
DR.. Wines gave an interesting re-
port on other countries. but explained
that statistics of homicides in the Unit
ed States were unavailable. He de-
clared, however, that in spite OF state
ments to the contrary there was strong
evidence that crime in this country was
on the decrease.
Spirited discussion arose in the con-
gress today over a resolution repre-
sented by the section on Juvenile de-
llinauency," declaring that young de-
llinquents should not be subjected to
| the penal procedure now applicable
| to adults and defining the principles
that should guide the procedure.
Accepting the principle of conditional
release on parole as Indispensable. the
congress approved of these resolutions
| The conditional release should be
| given on recommendation of prop
erlv constituted board with power to
recall the prisoner If his conduct should
prove unsatisfactory; that the duty OF
caring for these liberated prisoners
should be assigned to special officials
or to prisoners aid societies; that
where the ordinary rules of parole dc
not amply the facts should be submit
| tod to the proper authorities SO that
| the desired results could be brought
about.
The suppression of vagabondage and
! street begging was advocated as nee
essary for social preservation. The
| congress indorsed unanimously the rec
| ommendntion that tramps should be
| kent by the police of all cities and
towns. Workh ouses for this class were
advocated with agriculture as the lead.
ing Industry. 1t was advised that the
pcriod of detention be made sufficiently
long: to insure thorough training. A
system of conditional liberation was
proposed.
A public lecture was given tonight
by 7. Sanagi, one of the Japanese dele
gates. on the subject of the administra'
tion of penal laws In Japan
i Prior to the afternoon meeting o.
the congress Prof. r. VanBerry lee
tured on the subject of training o
spetsea oGieial&