Milford chronicle., 1926-03-05
MILFORD, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1926

issue.
MILFORD, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1926
THE APPOINTMENT OF Sylves-
ter D. Townsend, of Wilmington, to
be Secretary of State has met with
the approval of citizens of Delaware.
For several years Mr.. Townsend has
becn in public life. He has served his
city well, and when elected Attorney
General of the State a few years ago
his conduct of the office was praise
worthy. He is conversant with the
duties of his office, and has had eX-
perience in handling matters before
the General Assembly. His knowl-
edge should stand Governor Robin
son in good stead during the re-
mainder of his tenure of Office. Mr..
Townsend is well-known throughout
the State. His past acts while in
Office give evidence that he will fill
his new post with fidelity and honor
to the State. No fair criticism can
be made of Governor Robinson's
choice for this important office.
De@
AN EFFICIENT OFFICIAL has
retired as Secretary of State and
taken up duties which she has full
filled with honor to herself and the
State for twenty-seven years. Miss
Fannie E. Harrington at her own
solicitation and after her resigna-
ton had been accepted by Governor
Robinson has relinguished the reins
of the Office and again taken up the
duties of Chief Clerk. Miss Herring
ton during her short tenure of office
has attended to her many duties
faithfully and well. She has the re-
spect of all having business with
the Secretary of States Office and
many were sorry to hear OF her res
ignation. In resuming her old duties
the State is assured of the services
of a competent employee who rend-
ers one hundred per cent service at
all times.
IN THE SUSSEX COUNTY jail
yard last Friday morning a man leg
ally and justly convicted of ravish-
ing a small child was hung by the
neck until he was dead-and there
by the name of Sussex County and
the State of Delaware was left un-
tarnished from the stain of mob vio-
ence and vengeance. Protected by
he State officials from the minute OF
MS arrest and on during his trial
and I'D until he was legally execut-
ed, Harry Butler has passed on from
this earth-and his exit herefrom re-
moves a menace ever present to the
childhood and womanhood Of our
commonwealth; so long as he drew
Lhe, breath 81 life. He has received
a well merited fate; but in admins
.ering the penalty a needless and
gruesome picture was painted by
those charged with the duty. For
approximately two hours the body OF
his fiend was allowed to hang from
the gallows on which he was exc
cuted, that the thousands of morbid
curious might pass by and view it.
This procedure was unnecessary, it
was heartless and certainly merits
he condemnation of all right-think-
ng citizens of our State. The COM
nonwealth was amply guaranteed
hat Butler would and did receive
lis fate, without displaying the body
o the public as it still swung at the
nd of the rope. The legally requir-
ID jury was present to certify that
le had been executed. Newspaper
men from all sections Of the state
we're in attendance to carry the
tory throughout the length and
,readth of our little State, and nu-
nerous others who because of their
ficial positions were enabled to
Witness the execution gave ample
uarantee that the penalty had been
arried out as prescribed by law.
therefore it was an ill-conceived
ct which permitted the morbid cur
BUS to make a holiday Of the event
nd witness that which it was just
s well should have been kept pri-
ate. We in Delaware believe in the l
pholding of our laws, we provide
egal machinery for the proper ad-
1inistration Of these laws, and we
1ost assuredly are opposed to such
ruesome exhibits of ancient Gus
oms as was displayed last Friday
t Georgetown. Execute the muir
erer or child ravisher when he is
onvicted, give him the quickest of
ustice-but, tell 20 the world who
nows but little OI US anI our
leals, the fact, that justice has pre-
allied, privately and legally, and
hat the morbid curious were for
idden their opportunity to gloat
ver the fate Of the unfortunate
rute. May Delaware never again
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