Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-09-12
THE WEBB REPRIEvE.

derer, sentenced to be hanged at Sa.
lem last Tuesday, was saved by oficiai
action and his sentence commuted tc
.fife Imprisonment. In this instance
as in many of the others in which he
has taken a prominent part, Governor
West engineered the performance in
full spectacular style. For weeks prior
to the eventful day which meant
Webb's doom, the governor had been
deaf to all entreaties for pardon or a
Communication of sentence. He would
not interfere with the course of the
law, he declared and the convicted
mans daughter and his wife, who had
been untiring in their efforts on be-
half of father and husband, lost all
hope, and preparations for the legal
murder went on apace. Webb himself
gave up to despair and prepared for
the end. But, with the time for the
hanging but a few minutes distant,
Governor West relented and, with his
full force Of press agents in close
proximity and in full possession of
each spectacular particular, the chief
executive took official action and
spared the condemned mans life.
When Webb received the news in
his cell, he wept for joy and his wife
and daughter, too, were overcome
with emotion, as was natural Life
looks inviting to the condemned nlur-
derer, even II II is to be spent in a
nrfaon COLL apd nrobob1., 10 y,,o,a
joyous soul-overflowing news was ever
brought to mortal man than that
taken to Webb's cell in Salem last
Tuesday morning.
One can understand the feelings
that must have held possession of the
heart of the condemned man and of
his relatives. One can understand the
gratitude that welled within them, but
one cannot comprehend the action of
the daughter Of the prisoner in cutting
up the rope that was to have hanged
her father and distributing the pieces
to the other prisoners, and to friends,
as souvenirs of the ghastly occasion.
It would seem that the first prompt
ings of the heart would be to remove
all traces OF the affair, rather than to
perpetuate them in memory by retain
ing souvenirs.
The action Of Governor West, in
saving the life of Jesse p. Webb, will
be condemned and applauded by the
people OF Oregon in proportion as |
they believe In or Are opposed to cap
ifaI punfuhmanf Mahl, ,,,o. n ala
blooded murderer according to the
testimony. He killed his victim for
money and packed his body in trunk.
There was no attempt at a self-defense
plea during his trial, and no palllat-
Ing circumstances developed. He
simpy killed his man in cold blood and
he was sentenced to pay the extreme
Yet the hanging of Webb
would not have made the pathway of
life lighter to the relatives of the man
who died at Webb's hands. Nor
would Il have prevented like crimes In
he future. The man with murder in
his heart does not stay his hand
through fear OF the hangman's
moose. Laws do not build character,
hey only provide rules and punish
nent FOR their violation. Because one
nan slays his fellow an ancient GUS
ON. a relic OF barbarous ages, pro-
'ides that the slayer shall meet death !
It the hands Of the authorities. II is {
he doctrine of On EYE for an eye. or
/ tooth for a TOOTH" that at one time
mbraced all that was supposed TO be '
Necessary in the formation OF laws '
nd punishment FOR transgressions- I
But modern enlightenment has .
rought people to look at things dif- q
erently. and there is a growing senti-
nent against '1egalized murder" for s
are nothing more. Conhne- $
nent for life behind the walls Of a {
loomy and forblddlng prison, shut
ut from all intermingllng with his ''
ind, forbidden participation in the
oys and the pleasures that make life
forth the living; even denied, In a Y
leasure. the pleasure OF beholdlng
he great green world basl1ing in the
Milling sweetness OF the summer I
lnshine. the blooming flowers that
aise their fragrant petals to toe kiss
the misty rain. Condemned for life
, a narrow cell IN a musty prison. n
here 60 be alone with his accusing b.
and the ever-present men, N
~ Of the awful crimei Nothing ci
} hope Tor, and naught ahead hut G.,
ays. and DAYS. and days OF prison h.
O.. all ambition gone. with the real OF
alton of wasted life. and man has RI
at one lie to live here on earth, and. q
nally the end. there IN the future. ca
ld a home in a narrow bed beneath q
Ie sod.
% Wsuld appear that such punish u
ent o. FAR greater than the taking "a
the prisoners life. Webb was 81
'erloyed az the thought of his re- r.
ieve. but through an the years OF n
e future he viii be as completely m
ut cut from TIE world a. though the an
.nEman's noose had accomplished is
Ity last Tuesday. The world win an
rEet him. and his friends win 20 on W,
cir way, aud, On q few years his only Ina
antifcntion win be his number. hut r.
sbh win not forEet His couscience Va
n ~ ever present. and even though 70
i life shah extend his days to a ripe.
aEe. alHaga every day. through
3 years VII BE- that ever-prsent soul
hin him and the memory Of his az
fui crime he cannot escape q. nor VII
he a. areusafiont and il Is safe % ma
! that many. many tines in TIE Sal
nirE years vim Weth. ne murderer. on
lire fnat there h. q mere dreaded of
rIshuert than death ~ tie hang sys
~ rccra ter