The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-02-04
DEATH PENALTY IS
A@BOL|SHEDBYC CLOSE
VOTE IN THE SENATE
Governors Suggestion
Finally Approved by
"a to Is.
TO CURB
They Will Be Made More
Difficult Since Death Sem
tence Is Abolished.
TO CURB PARDONS

Pierre, S. D.-The senate Satur-
day took up the discussion OF S. b.
A, a small bill in size but mighty in
its possibilities, and one on which
the senate members have been play
ing for position" for several days, the
act to repeal the laws OF the state
which provide for capital puninsh-
ment. The bill passed, "a to 1S, and
now goes TO the governor for his
signature. He will sign it.
The galleries were filed with spec
tators, even before the house mem
bers rushed over following adjourn
ment, and the audience was a large
one. Beebe opened for the bill which
carries his name as the introducer,
with q plea for the bill, on the ground
hat errors occur, the prosecutor
anxious for record urges conviction,
and the man without money is more
likely to be convicted than the one
with money 10 make a legal fight. He
is opposed to hanging on any and all
grounds.
Peckham opposed the bill. He said
| each senator represented a thousand
men capable of serving on a jury,
and the senate should be willing tic
trust the discretion of a jury. Whit
| temore defended the bill and declar-
ed legal executions to be only COW
ardly assassinations by the state. NC
Lean declared his belief that the in
Junction Thou Shalt Not Kill meant
the public as we'll as the individual,
DALEY opposed the bin and took
position that it had not been mis-
used sincd statehood; that pardons
are too easy to secure and thai the
| criminal can come back and revenge
himself on witnesses. With no death
penalty there is no repentance ano
| the mind is all on release. Minnensota
is attempting to have the death pen
atty restored. Stephens supported the
bill saying courts and lawyers wouie
strike from limbs the last shackles OF
barbarism and that terrorism is nc
| longer an element of Justice anC
circumstantial evidence too much re.
lied upon.
Vandemark opposed the bill. Ht
declared that pardons are too easy
and that with the present pardon law
we must nave capital punishment. IN
noncent men will be killed by lynch
inps if there is no executions. "A man
with money can't be kept in the South
Dakota pen%itentiary through lie un'
less he dies pretty quick There
have been 1913 homicides In Soutf
Dakota since statehood, and but hvt
executions he pointed out.
Waters of Hand and Lundley o
iGregory we're for the bill. Hayes OPP
nosed, saying such a law would take
from the state it's most powerful
weapon with nothing left to take it,
place. Society must trust society te
keep down mob law. Lincoln opposed
and pointed out Brown county cases
Time may come when we, are educa
ed enough but not yet. Hagen wa:
for the bill. On the final vote, those
voting Aye were: Amsden, Anderson
Beebe, Bickel. Bobb. Ericsson. Frost
Hagen, Kuhns, Laurson, Lundly, MI
Ter, Morris. Mclean. McMasters, Cd
land. Paterson, Stephens. Stiles
Sheafe, Urdahl, Waters, Whitlosk
Whittemore. total "a.
Those voting no were: Berndt
brooks, Daley, Hale, Hayes. Howell
Lincoln, Warwick, McClintock, Nc
Kinnon, Peckham. Pearson. Print
M. Stoner. Stutenroth, V~anDemark
Ziebach, Zoske. total IS.