The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-04-18
Editorial Page



 Governor Geo. w. F. Hunt refused to sign the revised penal code Arizona the last the Legislature because the code provides the inicton of the death penalty and denied the Governor the right repreve boldbooded murderer eA eep the discovery of new evidence which would eh title defendant a trial.
 The contest the abolshment of capital punish during the present session and will again down to defeat The ac- Legislature supported by great majority of public sentiment of the inhiction of the death punishment cod-blooded deliberate, premeditated murder.
 Canital punishment should not be abolished in Ari- which have abolished the death penalty have had great increase in the number or uf and also of lynchings.
 California formerly hang but crime greatly that she had to adopt capital punish ent abolished the death penalty in 1S72 but SC great of murder and mob violence in the state that penalty restored in 1s7s Colo tried the experiment with the same result but restored death penalty in 1903.
 Even Rhode thirty years experience with capital found that the lives prison officials unsafe Inasmuch as life prs could be imprisoned for any longer term he was kill his keeper in effort to escape without fear additional penalty if he failed to escape, and so the law capital punishment restored in 1882 for der within prisons But if the death penalty is necessary protect prison officials against the why is not such law necessary to protect ordinary against criminals?
 Murder in Michigan increased from 16 in the year prior abolition of hanging to 152 in the same period forty of aboltion25OO per cent increase AS August 1912 maintain oder in the state prison Michigan they had to put the cowhide across the backs of 1ashed barrel The tortures are indescrbable. will have to do the same thing if capital punishment is abolished
 In Maine the increase of murder from annual average aboshing to eighteen after in the year 1eO5 gave up the experiment. in 1884 be- cause abolition there many murders. Again repealed capital punishment in 1887 because false report generally believed that Wagner, innocent man. was executed. time after his death his own lawyer that Wagner guilty as the devil New York tried this experiment way back in the six about 1862, but proved such failure that New gave up and adopted capital punish the capital crime of murder
 Previous the abolishing of the death penalty in Colorado, lynchfng amost unknown and torturing by fire had occurred 5ut after the abo ishing penalty lynching up in var parts, of the state. Commenting on one lynchlns taken place at Pueblo, Col, the Colorado Springs 1900 in it's leading editorial said:
 The abolshing capital punishment in Colorado it's natural and expected fruit It is at the same time encouragement murder and a riot mob frenzy. The responsibility awful crimesthe of murder and the crime ynchng rests with the Legislature that made the the governor that sggned it. Upon them rests responsibility the condition that makes human life less might be and that will con lynchings until the law is amended The present of legislative ooishness may be left until every in the State shall lynchings Peublo, CaCnyon CCy and others the punishment of death for mur der restored is the only punishment prate a crime for which reparation be made no compensatory punishment inflicted
 No wondeT that the Colorado Legislature at it's very these proofs before it's people those nearest and dear the stricken down in cold bood and the murder housed clothed the State for the rest of lives reestablshed the death penalty in Colorado today, it's wisdom unquestoned Un law, innocent or later will suffer We nothing of that sort in Arizona.