Evening star., 1926-02-01

Clarence j. Darrow, noted criminal
lawyer, was the principal witness to-
day before the judiciary subcommlt-
tee of the House District committee,
| which is conducting hearings on the
Mcleod bill to abolish capital pun
ishment in the National Capital.
There was a large gallery of news
paper men, photographers and other
auditors awaiting Mr.. DarroW's ap-
pearance. The hearing was promptly
thrown into recess while approx
mately 100 pictures of Mr.. Darrow
and the members of the subcommittee,
and especially of Mr.. Darrow and
Representative Reid Of Illinois, posing
| together. were taken.
| 1t was nearly noon when Mr.. Dar-
row started speaking. He told the
| committee that an attempt to prove
| anything regarding the merits or de-
| merits of capital punishment by sta
| tisticS would prove "a hopeless. use
less job" Such statistics are availa-
| BILE, he said and compiled by States.
! They will show that the States where
capital punishment has been abol-
| ished have a lower rate of crime than
| other States where capital punish
ment still operates, but he pointed
| out that the States that have abol-
! ished capital punishment are mainly
| agricultural States which naturally
| do not lead TO killing.
| 1T doesn't depend upon arguments,
| but what kind of fellows you are,
said Mr.. Darrow. IF you are humane
| and have sympathy for your fellow
| man you are against capital punish
| ment. We are all murderers at heart"
and then he explained that he had
never killed a man, but / read
| obituary notices with great salts
! faction
| In reply to series of questions Mr.
Darrow explained that he spoke from
| 4S years Of experience as a lawyer
and for more than % years had taken
a great interest in the subject dur
Ing his practice in criminal cases. and
that he has appeared as an attorney
in about so homicide cases and his
clients have never yet been hanged
Mr.. Darrow explained that the in
| terest he takes in the subject oi
criminal punishment is not derived
entirely from study of law. "TC
know this subject You must be verseG
in science and sociology" he added
You cannot learn it merely by
| studying law"
The subcommittee conducting the
hearings was in facetious mood this
morning. especially Mr. Reid
| Asked by Mr.. Reid to discuss the
| condition of crime in Chicago, Mr.
| Darrow said he knew nothing about
| II except what he read In the news
| papers, and they get theeir inforrna
| ton from the crime commission, which
| seems to enjoy keeping things stirred
| up. He said that while We frequent
| ly hear of d crime wave, the crime
wave is always with us. but we have
| periodic stirring up of public senti
| nv h
| people thrilled.
| He pointed out that we have at least
| two killed bv automobiles 10 every
one murdered. He pointed out that
! growing out of the war. folks have ap
! parently found it easier TO take hu
man life and because il is today not
| appraised very highly. He said that
since prohibition has come upon US
| the people have to get a kick out o1
something and they get it out Of the
| murder wave.
| Mr.. Darrow confirmed a statement
made earlier in the hearing by Repre-
sentative Sosnowski of Michigan that
| in that State, where capital punish
ment was abolished many years ago
the crime ratio is lower than in other
States where capital punishment is
still in force-'hanging or roasting
| which / believe is considered the more
| humane method" Mr.. Darrow said
| But that doesn't prove anything, he
explained.
! Albert II. Zimmerman, who said he
represents the Washington Helpers OF
the Hills. the Associated Church
| Press. and Mr.. Sosnowski were also
witnesses and both opposed capita
punishment.
Mr.. Sosnowski said that no gooC
had been brought about in this coun
| try by inflicting capital punishment
and that 1t has in no way proved E
deterrent OF crime. He insisted thai
many innocent persons had been con
| vited on Circumstantial evidence anC
| later proved innocent through the
confession of guilty parties.
NO sane man would commit muir
der. Mr.. Sosnowski said. explaining
that in his opinion any one who com
nits murder is temporarily, at least
insane
| Representative Houston of Della
ware. who is opposed to the bill under
consideration and favorS capital pun
ishment as helping to protect societ!
through deterring others from com
mittIng capital offenses, injected the
comment that "a good many are &C
quilted on the plea Of insanity who
are not really insane"
Every one is a potential murderer.
Any one with imagination or synpa