The Washington times., 1922-03-11
ATTORNEY CITES
GAIN IN PLEA TO
SPARE NJ HENRY
Condemned Youth Entitled to
As Much Consideration,
Says w. T. Soders.


ment derive from hanging John Nc.
Henry?" asked w. Thomas Soders,
Washington patent attorney. For
the following reasons, I believe Nc
Henry should live." Mr.. Soders
stated 10 a letter to The Times to-
day: a
'First--For his dear old mothers
sake. Second-Because, of my ex-
perience. legal knowledge and asso-
ciated work as a sociologist and set
uement worker, i am convinced that
hanging and electrocuting do not de-
ter crime. Third--McHenry, regard
less of his act and criminal deed. can
not be of sound mind. Fourth
Coupled with this unbalanced mind
is form OF degeneracy. A closer
study by medical experts should be
invited by the court.
what benefit can the State de-
rive by hanging McHenry? Is II not
as the young man says. "A minute
wiggling and twitching and it's all
over with him, his sufferings are
GER To send McHenry to prison
for life, the State viii benefit--Mc-
Henry will pay for his triai-so-
ciety (Mrs. Mmcare and Mrs. Arm
strong) viii profit by the commu-
tation. 1t Is TO be believed. although
this youth did slay their husbands,
these widows cannot help butt exer-
else q kindly feeling for Mrs. Rice,
the mother of John McHenry, for
they too. are mothers. The blotting
out Of the life Of John McHenry. viii
not deter crime. Were Il q fact
that II would. stop the commission
Of crime. murder. then II would be
well to hang McHenry.
Case Of Cain Cited.
Why should society and the law
be 30 much more rigid on McHenry
than God was on Cain7 God did not
murder Cain because Cain murdered
his brother Abel. God simply mark
ed him for life. Why can't we mark
McHenry for life with prison stripes.
and allow him to labor for the
widows7 Attorney General Daugh-
erty has inaugurated an earning
compensation prison plan for
prisoners and since McHenry is the
first to bring this request before
the Chief Executive and Judge, why
not give him a chance? Although I
do not believe McHenry Of sound
mind, but I must admit he Is doing
some good reasoning-don't ask why.
for he, like a drowning rat, desires
life.
America is not uncivilized, heart
less or insensible. America, and the
civilized world know, that hfe for a
life. hanging. electrocutinS. firine
crime, hence we should find some
other method with more severity
and Of which the criminal would
shrink and fear. Since we believe
in capital punishment. then why not
enact a law for murder, say four az
years in United States penitentiary
at hard labor and after said four
years the criminal shall die by hang.
ing, electrocuting or the firing
squad. in the walls Of the United
States penitentiary. This would
have tendency to deter crime.
But, here in the National Capital, II
should be our duty to keep the stain
and disgrace OF hanging or electro
cutting free from the territory OF the
District Of Columbia. As a repre-
sentative secretary Of the Com
mercial Exchange of 10000 mem
bers, I take the liberty to inform
you, we are for committing the
sentence OF John McHenry TO life
imprisonment.
"Who is John McHenry? What
do alienists and medical experts say
of him? What was the conscien-
tious opinion of the majority, rela-
tive to his sanity? Is there any
trace Of degeneracy about the
youth? Can we trace back and find
all of his relatives OF sound
mind7 Were all of these facts
brought out in John McHenry's
trial? Remember, John McHenry
was on trial for his life. every
every doubt due the prisoner, tha
accused.
Question Boys Intent.
Did John McHenry deliberately
open fire on w. w. Mulcare7 'Tis
true he went into this public place
seeking money because he was
hungry, but who can say that John
McHenry went into Mulcare's store
with a bent intent to commit MUIR
der. The youth claims that he was
fired on, not once but twice, by
Mulcare. 'Tis true he had no bust
ness in the store demanding the
money Of Mr.. Mulcare, but the boy
was hungry and wanted food and
did not close In to kill Mr.. Mulcare,
until he had been fired on. Did
he know who Detective Armstrong
was? No. 1t is true he could have
believed him Mr.. Mulcare and when
he saw him throw his hand on the
inside of his coat, he could have
felt that he had trailed him and
came to recapture his money and
turn him over to the police, either
by surrender or shot. Naturally
the boy protected himself. But,
both Mr.. Mulcare and Detective Arm
strong are dead--and only John Nc
Henry OF the trio lives-and he begs
that he be given chance to labor
for the best he can atone to Mrs.
Mulcare and Mrs. Armstrong for the
great wrong he has done them. JUS
tice Mccoy and the District Attorney
are to be congratulated for granting
McHenry a stay.
'Tn the name of God, can't we
give John McHenry as much con-
as God gave Cainr