The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-02
PITT COMMENTS
ON bEATT|E CASE
BAPTIST EDITOR PUZZLED AT
STAND TAKEN BY PASTOR OF
EXECUTED MAN.
GOVERNOR Is PRAISED
GOOD WORD 10 ALSO SAID FOR
sUPERrNTENDENT WOOD WHO
EXCLUDED PRESS
BOYS.

The Rev. DR.. r. H. Pitt, editor Of
the Baptist Religious Herald, has this
to say In the current issue OF his
publication:
Tho Row. J. J FIX is made TO say
that his church did not exclude the
murderer. Beattte while the trial was
In progress since It did not seem
Just to him to hold him guilty until
ne was adjudged SO by the law, and
that after he was found guilty he was
still retained in the membership.
since 1t did not seem merciful to de-
prive the condemned man Of church
Nom oership. Apparently. therefore,
the only thing which would have JUS
titled the church In excluding him
would have been his acQuittal! But
what does church mem bership mean
IN the light OF such a statement"
Commends Governor.
DR.. Pitt goes ON to say:
Now that the wretched and miser-
able END OF 1t all has come. there are
some general observations which we
may. without impropriety. submit.
First OF all. let US express our SIN
core respect for the Governors course
In the trying and perplexing situa-
ton In which he was placed. His pub
lilo statement. declining to interfere
with the Judgment OF the court, IL a
model OF dignity. clearness and force,
ana has the ring Of genuine righte-
business. It Is indeed classic In Its
way and does honor to his head and
heart. 1t is easy. Of course, to say
that he had no alternative, that the
law does not contemplate his inter-
ference except In the case OF newly
discovered evidence or in some extra
ordinary case In which the condemn
WAS Palpahly untustiy dealt with.
Did His Duty.
Governors are human and appeals
to their sympathies often warp their
minds and cloud their judgments. To
know that . single word would stop
that solemn procession. would halt
that dead march to the electric chair,
to have his mail flooded with all sorts
Of appeals. to have. a. in one I'M
fortunate and almost inexcusable In
stance, tho daily press urging him to
intervene, to have before him the pic
ture Of the bowed and white haired
father. and the family OF the con-
demned man made juhilant by a sin
gle word from his pen. these are con-
ditions which might we'll move = kind
~ heart to stretch the law q little.
Yet every good and righteous man
knows that the Governor Of Virginia
did his duty soberly and with becom-
ing dignity.
Approves Woods Conduct.
We know how to sympathise with
the bright and eager young men rep
resenting the daily press In their dis
appointment because Superintendent
Wood rigidly excluded from the
prison the morning OF the execution
every living soul except those who
were expressly authorised BY law to
witness It. It was the climax OF a
great and notable news incident, over
which they had labored for weary
hours. and to be compelled to stand
outside the prison wallis while the
last act OF the dreadful drama went
on within. was. Of course, grisvous.
Yet. in calmAr mood they will be the
first to approve the superintendent In
the main In his conduct OF the mat
ter. The law evidently intended to-
abolish executions ~ public spec
taclss. and superintendent Wood rem
dered . public service when ho ao]
Interpreted II. Perhape Il would have
been better u have talenn the re-
poTters out Of the rAln. but thu policy
" kqeDdn0 the exenufton private de-
eervea commondatioA.s