Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-02-06
death COULD
BE ABOLISHED
IN MANY CASES
With NO DANGER TO SOCIETY
.LittIGjOhn's Views on Doing
Away With Death Penalty

| -
against capital punishment is making
considerable progress in Georgia ant
that in many murder trials men VIII,
make the best class of jurors are ex-
cused because they announce their
conviction that capital punishment is
wrong and that they are conscientious,
ly opposed to it. A few jurors may
do this to save serving but in the ma
jority of such cases the honest con-
victions of the man excused are
doubtless expressed.
1t is not very often in Sumter o.
nearby counties that men present this
as their reason for not desiring t.
serve as jurors in murder trials. Yet
at the same time, it is quite probable
that in many minds there is a doubt
of the wisdom of putting men to death
who have been found guilty of murder
On the streets citizens are not infre-
quently found who express themselves
as opposed to hanging, except where
the crime is a most aggravated one
While this so far represents minor
ity sentiment in Americus and the sur
rounding country it may prove d
growing sentiment, and eventually
strong enough to have it's effect.
Judge z. A. Littlejohn was asked by
a Times Recorder representative for
his views as to capital punishment.
The question is one," said the
judge, that | would be loath to eX
press an off-hand opinion about. There
are so many factors entering into ii
that one may we'll hesitate and desire
farther consideration of it before as,
suming positive attitude as regards
it. / have long felt, though, that cap
ital punishment as a deterrent of
crime is not a pronounced success. |
have almost reached the conclusion
that it should not be imposed except
in cases where the crime is of helm
Gus nature. The fact that juries lii
other classes of capital cases, so often
recommend mercy, shows that the
public mind inclines to the same be-
life, that the life of the criminal should
only be forfeited where the conditions
of the crime were more than those OF
an ordinary killing, even though it Is,
in the eye of the law, to be classed as
murder in the first degree. Very long
onment, would seem to be a more fir
ting punishment in probably the ma-
jority Of cases where verdicts of muir
der are returned. But, as has been
directed attention to, the element oi
pardons there comes into play If tha
public were assured that the exercise
of the pardoning power generally
would not be so liberal the sentimeri
against capital punishment, save in
extreme instances would doubtless eN-
pand far more rapidly than it is doing
The public sense of justice in this
| country, though, has been so often
outraged by executive clemency IL
murder cases, after comparatively
brief punishment of the criminal, that
| It is fearful of the results of an abe
ishment of the death penalty Speak
ing generally, | should say that wha,
! the whole country needs is less par
doning, and a stronger and more sus-
| tanned support for the courts in their
efforts to instill respect for the law
! and life. Once that is assured this
question of capital punishment wit
take care of itself"
Judge Thomas, of Valdosta, stated
recently that in his opinion the abol;-
tion of capital punishment would
mean more lynchings. Without desir-
ng to antagonize Judge Thomas, judge
Littlejohn was asked for his views or
that line.
q hardly think that capital pun
ishment should be entirely done away
with" said he There are, as have
said, extreme cases where it seems the
only fitting punishment. These ar,
the cases where lynchings would
most naturally occur, owing to tn
character and circumstances of til
crime committed. The law provide
death as the penalty for them nov
but lynchings go right along, ant
unfortunately, this lynching fever doe
not confine itself to such criminal,
but goes beyond them at times to me
whose crimes are not such as to briu
= death under the law The whole que
tion is one that would require IL
action was taken. But | feel assure
t that in many instances the death pc
r atty could we'll be removed witho
9 any menace to- society or any shoe
! to the public sense of justice"