The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-04-21
GAS FOR
DEATH PENALTY
NEVADA HAS NEW LAW PROVID-
ING FOR DIFFERENT METHOD
OF KILLING MURDERERS
Will be Administered While the Pris-
oner Sleeps; Men Who Are Con-
demned Will Not Know When
Lives Are to be Snuffed Out; Ex-
pertinent Watched With Interest.

pertinent Watched With Interest.
Lethal gas as a meal of inflicting
the death sentence is nov to be given
a test. Electrocution marked the
first attempt in this country to find
a method better from all standpoints
than hanging. The use of gas is the
second. The advocates of this meth
cd claim that it is an improvement
on death by the electric current.
Emmett D. Boyle, governor Of Ne
vada, signed the bill which provides
for the execution of condemned men
by the use of letha1 gas in that state,
instead of by a choice between shoot
ing or hanging.
The death warrant for a condemn
ed criminal, according to the new
law, must designate a week within
which the death penalty is to be in
flicted-a week not more than ninety
and not less than sixty days after
judgment. The condemned man is to
be assigned to a room suitable for
the purpose, and some time during
the week lethal gas is to be turned
on while the prisoner sleeps.
Critics of the measure have ex-
pressed doubt whether sleep is pos
sible under these conditions. They
assert that the suspense involved is
likely to render this form of death
more terrible than any now in use.
Only actual demonstration can re-
veal how humane it may be.
1t does not seem likely that an OPP
portunity will be afforded very soon
to test the new law. 1t has been
about sever years since an execution
took place in Nevada, and the old
deathhouse has been used for some
time to store old furniture and to
give visitors to the historic prison
the gruesome thrill of standing on
the scaffold with a rope around their
.ecks. There is comparatively little
crime in Nevada, even in proportion
to the population, about 1900 peo-
pie in an area of 100000 square
Prohibition went into effect
there two years before the federal
amendment was put through, and it
is rigidly enforced, even to the extent
Of forbidding the sale of vanilla, lem
On and other flavoring extracts con-
tanning alcohol. Gunfighting more
Or less went out of fashion when
John Barleycorn was put to death
and the chief crimes are now bur-
glary, cattle stealing, paper hang
the Nevada nickname for for
gerry, and sometimes a killing"
often than not among the Mexi-
element.
Nevada was the first state to adopt
he in~determinate sentence. There
Ill criminals except those guilty of a
offense are sentenced to from
to fourteen years, at the discre-
ion of a parole and pardon board,
If which the governor is chairman.
Until recently it was possible for a
prisoner to apply for and obtain a
parole after having served a very
short time, but the privilege was
lbused to an extent that made it ne
to rule that the minimum
sentence must be served before a pa
ole is granted. Some paroles permit
he trusty to work at his trade dur
ng the day provided he returns to
,e locked up every night. Others are
Iilowed to live at a distance and re-
'ort by letter, if their behavior war
ants such a degree of leniency.
Whatever the criticism, the parol-
ng of prisoners at least has the eff
ect of solving the problem of the
Import of their families. A man
Who can show willingness and ability
o take car of his family is, when he
makes his application for a parole,
cry likely to find Governor Boyle on
is side, and with him a majority of
he board.
The proportion of guards to the
lumber of prisoners makes escapes
rom prison fairly frequent. This,
.owever, is not nearly so serious a
in Nevada as it is In New
Carson City, the capital,
7here the prison is situated, is thir-
y-two miles from the main line of
he railroad, and escapes must be
1ade on foot through the desert,
there there is many a rattlesnake,
nd many a mile between drinks.
pecimens of prisoners footprints
re kept OF record, and portions of
heir bedding or clothes which can
e given to the little bloodhound that
always on duty for the purpose of
up the scent. A string of
orses is always ready for the pursuit
it is seldom that more than a
ay or two elapse before the fugi-
yes are brought back.