Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-20
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

The commission OF an atrocious murder always
brings up the subject of capital punishment And, IN
rariably. people entertain Numerically opposite oPin-
ION. ON the subject
Throughout many centuries the trend has been
away from severe forms Of physica! punishment and
aurinx those centuries we have passed from the deiiae1-
ate infiction of every imaginable form Of torture and
Of capita. punishment: as the ordinary penalty fer even
petty orenses to the abolition Of torture eucept, IN rare
cases as where the whip may still. be used TO snoooe
a refractory prisoner, and the abolition OF capital pun
tshnaent in many states even for the taking Of human
life.
It is generally conceded that the severe and osuta.
punisemencs once IN vogue for minor crimes did !ittie'
if anything, to proven. the commission OF such crimes.
and that the Tightening OF punishment did rot result
in the increase o. those crimes. The results OF the aooll-
ton OF capital punishment: have not been SO well es.ao-
iisned, and there is marked disagreement, as to just what
that result has been.
The trouble il such cases IS to establish the con-
uectior between cause and effect. 1t is a fact ,ha. in
some cases the abolition OF capital punishment: has been
followed by a decrease In the number OF murders, and
those instances have been cited n support OK the Theory
that capita, pun:shnsen. is unnecessary ss an Instrument
OF modern society. Il is equally true thai II some cases
more murders have been committed after than before me
abolition O. this form OF punishment AMI here The ad-
vocates Of the cd system maintain that they are JUST
fed IN their position
It is obviously impossible, in mos: cases, 70 know
whether or not the character Of the punishment pre-
scrlnea has entered into the calculations of the criminal
Probably in most cases :: does not Il tie crime Is the
result Of lust or anger. CT anything which tends toward
srnpulstye action. scant thought Is given either to the
punishment prescribed or the probability OF detection.
The reason of the criminal IS swallowed up for the no
nent in the passionate impulse, and fear OF punishment
and plans for escape DO aot come until iates. Il the crime
is one OF cool del:oerat!oa, the character OF the POS
.ibie punishnen. is doubtless considered but the criminal
lays his plans SO carefully tina: he Is confident that ne
viii not be detected
Objections to capital punishment on the ground
that under no circumstances IS the taking o. life JUS
hf1abl2 are urged with s-ea: viEor BY what s probaos:
a -erT small minority. TIE p-eTaiers belief seems to Is
that society has the right even to take LIE Il tia, is e.
Eenial to its welfare.
Capita, punishment i. often opposei on the ground
beyond the possibility OF q mistake Ciccunassanual e1
dence may be naissa:s-r-s.ed; witnesses mag De mistaken
or ,csY perjure themselves. There are ca recc.d n1ner
Gus cases IL which c=e have been convicted OF evi6ecc:
which seemed &c exclude al doubt, and who have after
ward been p-oveo innocent In such q case the ~ronl
done to the :nd..idua. nay be righted IL pat Il ne ha
merely teen imprisoned. L he Is executed no redEes
1 IS possible.
Eu. perhaps tie rcst tc:cetl: arsu-ec. that e I'D
4 taiiz.rE influence CT he community which int;icts il
\ ard TIA. in Ills va i lands 20 promote .aoee yer
crimes OF violence which it IS intended 20 prevent