Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-01-16
SHOULD THE DEATH SENTENCE
BE ABOLISHEDl

Thea ppeals for executive mercy
and the Communication of the death SEN
tence to life Imprisonment in the
Beattie and Richeson cases, together
with frequent similar petitions in
other less notorious cases, evidences
the fact that very large part of the
American public is opposed to capitol
punishment. In several states there
has been a pronounced agitation in
favor of its adjustment and it is not
unlikely that this sentiment will be-
come more aggressive and more wide
snread as the years pass on. Here in
Georgia we have no well-deYeloped
sentiment along this line, although it
is quite probable that a respectable
minority of citizens are of the opinion
that the death penalty has signaliy
failed to lessen the frightful trend
toward homicide that blots the story
of the states life from year to year.
Men in position to study the ques-
ton and to speak with some authority
frequently express themselves as in
fayr of the abolition of the death
sentence. One thing that stands in
the way is the abuse of the pardoning
power. the release of convicts in COM
pliance with political influence. If
the public felt assured that a sentence
to life Imprisonment meant life i'm
prisonment, or at least twenty-five to
thirty years, and not mere matter NJ
three or four years Imprisonment,
sentiment in favor of the wiping out
of the death sentence might be given "A
tremendous impetus. But as long as
politicians get the ear of the govern
ors and hired attorneys with a pull
exercise it in favor of men convicted
of henious crimes, the death sentence
is apt to remain in popular favor.
State superintendent of Prisons
Joseph E. Scott of New York, is the
latest official to give amplified views
in favor of the adjustment of the
death sentence Whether we may
agree with him or not, his views are
worthy of careful consideration.
1.-TWO hundred years ago the death
penalty was inflicted in England and
her colonies for many crimes. There
were upward of two hundred offences
,;-h
student of history it is clear that
crime was as frequent in those times,
according to the population, as it is to-
day. If the death penalty is the de-
terrent believed by the popular mind
this would not be possible. If the
death penalty can be removed from
this great number of crimes, why
could we not go a step further and
abolish it altogether?
"In the New York State prisons to-
day are 300 men convicted of murder;
273 serving life sentences and twenty
seven awaitingt he execution of the
death penalty. If the life sentence of
273 murderers is sufficient wherein
comes the ~reater difference of putting
twenty-seven to death.
"The state of mind of the man who
commits murder is such at the time
that he can be but little affected by
the punishment of that crime if he is
detected. There is only one case
which | recall to mind wherein the
reverse seems to have been true, and
that was in the case of Sawtell, who
murdered his victim near the line be-
tween New Hampshire and Maine. 1t
was believed by some that it was his
intent to inveigle his victim over the
line of the state of Maine, where cap
ital punishment had been abolished, to
perpetrate the rhine, but l believe
had the death penalty been in vogue
in Maine that he would have murder
ed the victim just the same.
The statistics in the state which
havc abolished capital punishment DC
not show any greater proportion OF
murderers per population than SIM
liar communities where the death pen
atty is inflicted. Public sentiment is
such that it is more difficult to obtain
conviction where the death penalty Is
in vogue. 1t is true that occasionally
man is put to death who is innocent
of the crime for which he was con-
victed. Iii also trus that many men
escape conviction who comitted the
murder who would have been convict
ed had the punishment been less than
that of death If man indicted for
murder in the extreme penalty would
receive definite number of years his
trial would not attract especial at
tention more than the person con-
victed of another felony.
TT is the thought that mans life
is at stake which creates for him a
morbid sympathy, condoning to some
extent the crime, exploiting his trial
in the newspapers, the details are
read broadcast throughout the land
the effect of which can be nothing but
bad unon the public mind, especially
upon the young. This would be large
ly minimized if the death penalty
were abolished. Probably every one
can recall to mind murder trials
which would have resulted in conVic-