The Washington times., 1921-02-13
WOULD STOP
!. LEGAL KILLING
D. c. Jail Official Strongly 0p-
posed to InflictiOn Of
Death Penalty.
Continued from First PaseJ

his Incarceration. He sees the jail.
sometimes as a contribution to ex-
perience, something that he has never
seen before. When we think OF this
type losing his freedom. the foremost
thing In our minds IL what Lincoln
so profoundly said:
"A child 10 better unborn than untsusht"
He stands there amazed at the
things that Interest him. He feels
that these are new things and should
receive attention. Statistics tell us
that both colored and white OF this
type are committed, with the colored
in the majority. They are mostly
mentally deficient for lack OF educa-
ton. Our public and private schools
have made great Roadway In the
elimination OF this type OF prisoner.
SOME WELL PLACED.
Next we see the recidivist enter and
re-enter into the doors of confine-
ment. He Is well placed, understands
the reason OF his losing his freedom
and. with a certain amount OF egousm.
wants TO know from the other pris-
onrs whether their haul melted them "a
much as did his. This class or oack-
sliders. many time Offenders are
criminals by choice. He sins against
society for his livelihood and, at the
same time. for the experience and
pleasure that he thinks accrues from
his dastardly business.
An old-time habitual criminal once
told me that he liked the game,
that at was game of chance. lie
was a stickpin thief. and made be
lieve that he delighted in deceiving
the jewelry clerk right before his
.,,st hIAr would defeat
his opponent in game OF cards
Among this class are found the dan
gerous. the skillful and those ever
thinking of ways to escape from an
Institution. i am inclined to believe
as to this group that education and
environment produces only a small
effect on their mind and that most OF
their qualities are innate.
From the recidivist comes the plan
ming, constant planning, to gathef
even q greater haul the next time
They disclose-many of them-to the
first offender their efforts and doing'
Of lawlessness, and have tendency
to dispel from the frst onenders
mind all thought of doing WELL when
released. His good motives are laio
aside to think OF luxury and excite
ment, and thus accrues the contagior
Oh pau pdssioHS. ''S 'N'N'
convictions Of right, and. with him
materializes the thought OF prosper
Gus days and luxury through lawless
ness.
EFFECT OF PROHIBITION.
The eighteenth amendment to the
Constitution, while not perceptlply
so far, decreasing felonies in the DIS
trict, has materially decreased the
| faIa
drunkenness.
Those persons committed now for
intoxication are not the victims OF
whiskey all the time, but often are
of it's competitors such as certain
hair tonics and bay rum. When we
remove these kinds of 20 per cent al
cohol connections, | am sure that
crime in every phase will very great
ly decrease.
The most serious cases for which
persons are committed are for
murder and criminal assault These
are the most heinous crimes We have
by statute.
The word murder means to most OF
us that vigorous exercise OF justice
should be meted out. The heinous-
ness Of the word exemplifies to us
| that the murderer is one of the most
| looked upon as a man no one wants
to know nor cares to be near
have found quite a few whose char
acter was not blomished by former
stain. Men Of congenial and social
nature, of some good moral view
points and some good convictions OF
right. who, during the time OF
frenzy and impulsive moments, pas
sion and belief OF infdelity, have
committed this most heinous deed.
MAJORITY REPENTANT.
The majority are thoroughly re
pentant and over anxious to be giver
a chance TO start life over with the
determinat on of not falling again
On the other hand, l have known
many who have committed murder
after cool and deliberate meditation
and preparation. This type of "lif'
| takers are the most dangerous Grim
| inals. They usually seek their prey
under cover of darkness or in scm'
'ecluded and lonely place. The OBJ
ject is robbery or revenge.
| Criminal assault Is closely associat
ed, atrociously, with murder, so Close
|lv that the penalty by statute IS thu
same. Our federal law and most %
| our State laws carry the death pen
atty for first degree murder and rape
| There is n growing conviction tina
| capital punishment is a discordan
note IL the march of civilization. II
my official capacity / have witnessed
several executions by hanging am
have been Obliged to exercise author
| ity in causing the sentence to be con
sumated. If capital punishment is t.
survive, hanging is. in my Judgment
as humane as any other form now en-