Arizona republican., 1918-01-07
RECORD IF HOM|C|DES
 IN MAR|COPA

That the abolition of capital pun fshment is responsible to a great degree for the increased number of homicides in Maricopa county, was the statement of County Attorney l.. NJ. Laney yesterday.
 T am not prepared to say whether or not it is morally right to hang, but I am convinced that capital punishment has a restraining effect on those who contemplate murder" he said.
 Mir. Laney. in recounting the crimes committed in this county since the abolition of the death pen alty, declared that he had evidence to the effect that fear of death stayed the execution of crime. This he noted conclusively in the case of John Croft, who aided and coun- seled L. Anderson in the murder of Stephen Hughes d Tempe rancher. Owing to the fact that the alleged crime was committed four days be- fore the law abolishihg capital pun ishment went into effect, the court instructed the jury that in event the defendant was found guilty of first degree murder the verdict might be returned for life imprisonment or death.
 MT. Laney said that Croft had up to this time been under the impress sion that since the people had voted on the measure it was out of the province of a jury to impose the death sentence. He maintained his nerve stoically throughout the trial, and it was not until this instruction was read that Croft showed signs of weakening.
 Tt is always dramatic moment in a murder case when the jury re- turns it's verdict" said MT. Laney When the clerk read the verdict we, the jury do find John Grofi guilty of murder in the first degree, Croft turned deathly pale and thought he would shriek. He grippe( his chair, awaiting the final verdic with more emotion than I had seer displayed in the court room in years When the clerk continued after { brief pause, announcing the Verdic of life imprisonment, Croft relaxed and MT. Laney then pointed out tn. fact that Star Daly, who committed the most infamous crime that ha: ever beer committed in this state was not afraid of punishment fl Arizona.
 Daly, after murdering Gibson grossly mistreated his wife and whel l she protested and finally confronte, him with they'll hang you" h laughihgly replied, mot in Arizona. Just how much crime is due | the abolishment of capital punish
 ment I can not say, but certainl
 the evidence tends to show that | is responsible in a large measure t | the increase of crime. There ar | several other elements that enter in to bringing up the homicide rate il
 this county" said MT. Laney, wh
 believes that the psychological effec of the war and the general growt
 of the community brought about b | the influx of Mexicans and othe laborers iII connection with the cotto l industry.
 While the cotton industry is on
 of the fine and laudable projects (
 the valley, yet the fact remains tha
 the type of laborer it brings const
 tutes measurable element in tt
 increase of crime and violence sai
 the county attorney. While none
 the homicides could be traced d
 rectly to this source there have bee
 several assault cases that arose i
 the cotton fields. Another factt
 which the prosecutor gives as
 cause for the wanton murders
 this county is the war element, u
 public alarm that is being exp, rienced, and which has resulted the too free use of firearms.
 The border raids have instilled
 certain fear among our people, wi
 have acquired the habit of protec ing their homes with guns Whi 1t IS proper to have a gun in ti
 house for protection. this does n
 warrant the use of it under circun stances not justifiable"
 IT. only one of the cases is liuu, sail to have been responsible f l murder, and that was in the mo
 recent crime which took place 5 Glendale a few days ago when A. Y r Peay was shot in the back. Eln 3 Pearson and Bob" Cleaveland a 3 now being held iH the county js l awaiting trial. Pearson is alIeg
 10 have made Q voluntary and COT l plete confession of the murder. 9 According to the records the :. A"NO OCeh 1llttell murders Tn MaI = copa county since the abolition
 capital punishment. This does n = include the Star Daly case, who COT r mitted the homicide outside f a county line, but was brought to t ]. local Jail and later Iynched befo
 being removed to Florence. Neith = does the list include the Folst = case. although the public is co l, vInced that the man who dropp }, l from view on November 20 met wi d foul play.
 g Not all the cases were dealt wi ny the county, the federal court ha ing Jurisdiction in the case of T Indian girl killed on the reservatit e Another Indiar. @fs alleged to Ina been killed by Mexican in Wicbe 5 burg, who later is believed to Ia cago on a days notice to make her L