New-York tribune., 1918-08-03
Letters Denounce Death
Sentence Imposed ON
16-Year-Old Boy
Would Educate Him
D. H. Willard Suggests That
State Pay for Doomed
Lads Schooling

Hundreds Of petitions signed by per-
sons who want to save the life of six
teen-year- -old Paul Chapman, who is
under sentence of death at Sing Sing,
have been received by The Tribune.
Most of those who send the petitions
tell in their letters why their interest
has been enlisted in Chapman's cause.
The following is from S. G. Hefelbower,
q well known American psychologist:
81 have read several news items in
YOUR paper concerning Paul Chapman,
the sixteen-year-old boy under sentence
for murder now in the death house at
Sing Sing. l have no interest in this
boy, other than l would have in any
other boy in like circumstances. l do
not know him. nor do I know any one
who knows him; at least do not know
that | do. He and his family are
strangers to me. Nor has anybody ap-
preached me concerning him.
az am convinced that it is a miscar-
riage of justice that it is morally
wrong to Judge boy of his age accord
ing to the standard by which we Judge
adults.
Called Legal Murder"
"As one who has been interested in
ethics and psychology and pedagogical
matters I am convinced boys of that
age are immature, and this immaturity
shows itself in two ways that concern
the justice of the judgment OF the
present case: First, boys of that age
have not yet arrived at manhood in
their Judgment; they lack to a great
extent a proper moral perspective
ethical values are inadequatelv appre-
ciated. Secondhand this is most i'm
portant--they live much more by i'm
pulse than do mature men; life is less
8 matter of reason, less a matter of
action according to principles, and it is
more a response to the impulse of the
moment-one might say of momentary
inclination. 1t seems to me that to
carry out the sentence on this boy
would be legal murder"
A petition with fifty-one sigma lures
was sent by A. F. Faulkner, of "The
of the signers are florists. Mr. Faulk-
has converted him from long belief in
capital punishment. James B. Wasson,
director and chaplain of the Strangers
Welfare Fellowship, sent the name of
ninety-eight persons he thought would
be glad to sign the petition.
Would Educate Lad
Sarah n. Cleghorn characterized as
"gratuitous and savage piece of cru
city" the depriving Of men in the death
house Of their daily exercise for eleven
weeks. of which she read in The
Tribune. D. H. Willard whose letter
follows, suggested that Chapman not
only be freed, but receive an education
at the expense of the state:
"l am inclosing you a petition for
the life Of Paul Chapman, the sixteen
year-old boy who has been convicted Of
murder in the first degree.
u want to add to it my condemnation
OF the denial to the victim of the Gus
tomary exercise in the courtyard, as
well as to express in the strongest
terms possible my feelings against the
execution Of this young fellow
l am in favor not only of executive
clemency, but that the state shall take
tns young man and educate him rather
than take his life.
Il hope that this. as one of the great
many occurrences of recent wears, will
lead the State of New York to do away
With capital punishment.
u wish | could be of greater service
IN THIS case than TO write letter"