The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-02

It was the contention OF Sheriff Pe-
ters that the sight OF the grewsofne
trapplngs would have most salutarY
effect upon those in whose life HiEnt
come future temptations 70 slay or Fas
or 10 burn
And 50 firmly the sheriff believed III
the efficacy OF the idea that her peFs
sisted IN II despite the request from
Gov I,owden that he abandon his plals
and the added protests from scores ef
other persons who thought the scheme
unnecessarily brutal
Accordingly the stage was set 10 the
death chamber, DurraEe was led forth.
The quiet in the death chamber became
absolute for a moment Then the noasa
was slipped over the murderers head
From one Of the higher tiers came 4
strident shout;
when do we eatg"
Tier by tier. cell by cell. the cry was
taken up, Il became roar ap0ye
which the warden's voice could not be
heard
The trap was sprung. Darrage drop
ped into the space beneath the staf-
fold--dead,
When do we eat? was his requiem
Sheriff Peters declared after the ex
ecutIon that Gov Lowden's secretary
telephoned the Jail and asked regarding
plans for the hanging, but did not OBJ
ject to the sheriff's program,
Various Grimes.
Among the 200 prisoners who watched
| the execution were a number awaiting
trial for murder and scores held for r9h-
| berries holdups, assault and offeHaAH
| against young girls. Several govern
| ntert prisoners were also In the cells
The majority Of the prisoners an
| peared little impressed
Durrage was the quietest and nsAst
/ composed man In the death corridor.
| He walked to the gallows with a firm
1 In mn a
! emily unmoved. and never spoke willis
waiting for DEATH @
| Just before the execution the recetvei
\ Of the only telephone connecting IN
| jail with the outside world was Fe'
moved from its hook In Jailer Davies
/ office. II was reported this action wsAs
| taken to prevent n possible reprieve a
| the condemned man at the last minute
| When asked for an explanation Jailel
| Davies smiled and said:
| II can't say why IL was d0Ites fOl
see the telephone H. out OF order
4 Sheriff Peters later issued d Htafe
| meTt answering critics who opposed hs
| action, The statement reada ~
Against Coddling u,
,In nss opinion tI,e i1od II, ~ 4 81
OF Criminals by well meaning. but M 4
guided. sympathetic. tiieof5tIcal IL
/ formers and self~constituted oisennfzaA
tlons Is one Of the greatest causes 81
the present crime wave IN this CITY
| Their interference with the Vigorous
| enforcement Of the law has destroyed
the fear OF punishment by criminals To
the extent that 1t is no longer de-
terrent to the further commission as
| crime to be incarcerated In our penal
institutions, A large number OF pris-
| oners openly acknowledged tnat they
would prefer to be lncarcerated In the
county jail where they are better fed
and where sanitary conditions are far
better than in their ordinary environ
| ments.
The reformers are constantly all y
vocating the adoption and enactment
Of laws which are for the purpose of
| alleviating the punishment OF the crirn-
inal, forgetting and losing entire sight
OF the protection that the iaw-abIding
and peaceable citizen. Is entitled to as
against these human parasites.
III one-half OF the energy now spent
in sympathy on murderers and crinai-
nails would be devoted 10 the families
OF the victims and the other half tO
bringing 20 justice the brutes who have
j blotted out the lives OF aw-abiding and
| peaceful citizens and darkened forever
the lives Of others, this would be a han
pier and safer world to live i'm