South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-06
REV. U. S. DAVIS
DELIVERS SERMON
ON COMMANDMENT
"Can the Crime of Murder Be
Checked?" is Topic of Ser
mon at Baptist Church.


Can the Crime Of Murder Be
Checked ?" was the subject OF a ser
mon delivered on the Command
ments last night by Rev. L. s. Davis
before his congregation at the First
Baptist church. Rev. Davis charges
a big part in causing the present
wave OF murder.
His sermon IN part:
The Commandment reads, Thou
Shalt not XIII Let Us remember
that the Commandments are much
broader in their application than
their exact dictionary meaning. The
application OF this Commandment
has its bearing on our actions.
This would include all outward
acts OF violence. either deliberate or
careless. resulting from action or in
action. All men are accountable for
their deliberate acts and for their
acts OF carelessness. II a man kills
another. he is guilty OF his death. II
ne can save a man from death and
refuses. he IS again guilty OF murder.
This commandment teaches the
sacredness OF life. No person should
either take his own life - the life
Of another. In the Old Testament
which covers !, 900 years there are
three suicides recorded while i'm the
New Testament only one But all
~ used 10 illustrate the terrible sin
OF self destruction.
Both Scripture and the laws Of
nations condemn homicide. 1t is
clear that government must be vested
With the power TO protect human
life. When government fails in this
/ il is no longer worthy Of recognition.
Murder IS criminal beyond all other
offences. because it is the deface-
ment Of the image of Cod IN man.
Scripture says. Whoever sheds
mans blood. his blood shall be she'd
Some claim that the present
wave of murder is the result OF the
war. We are more inclined TO be-
lieve that the leniency OF our courts
have more to do with the increase in
murder than the war. The ability
| of lawyers TO free criminals on
technicaHties and to play on the
| emotions Of JURORS securing a YER
| dict of not guilty when they know
that the verdict should be guilty.
Not until recently has it been
possible 10 get a jury that would
/ convict a woman, until now we seem
TO have an unusual number cam
mitted by women. A man jury
would not convict a woman. A wo-
man jury will not convict man.
II suggest that we try the expert
ment OF trying women criminals by
women jur!es and men criminals by
men juries.
Another piece Of folly is com
mitted by the newspapers. They
give undo space TO reporting muir
ders. They publish the pictures OF
/ criminals until they imagine them
selves heroes instead Of criminals.
A degenerate mind loves publicity
and notoriety.
There is also to much sentiment
/ in the trial OF a murderer. The
/ trick Of the lawyer is to resolve the
\ trial into a sort OF a psychological
| clinic. Temporary insanity is the
plea that frees too many murderers
/ Anger. malace, jealousy always pro-
duces temporary insanity. The thing
/ to avoid is the cause. We can check
\ the crime Of murder when the courts
I the newspapers and the lawyers
work together to secure justice and
/ not until then, and fulfill the func-
\ ton of government which Is to fl
the necessary punishment to the
crime Personally. I am in favor
! Of capital punishment as the only
way Of giving equilibrium to the
scales OF justice and maintaining
the holy sacredness of life