The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-10
The Snyder Verdict


Undoubtedly popular opinion will agree with
the jury that as long society retains capital pun
ishmen as one of it's of protecting itself that
man and woman who cruelty murdered the husband
of the woman as he slept deserved to die.
You may or may not believe in capital punish
ment The amount of discussion aroused in Indian
apolis by Will Durant's challenge to- the system of
law which still employs the death penalty, is in
sufficient indication that citizens still hold holly to
opposite opinions on the subject
This newspaper incines to the view that such
harm as society does by exacting life for life
is done chiefly to society itself We were greatly
impressed by this passage in Durants article of last
Friday:
There is an instinct of cruelty in us that fingers
from the hunting stage of mankind's infancy and
gives us a stealthy delight in thoughts and acts OF
torture The inquisition was popular, not with the
napacv. which protested against it's methods, but
with the crowd that loved to witness suffering.
The force Of this declaration increases when we
read the story of the scene in the court yesterday
as Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray waited for the verdict
Of the jury
"They faced judgment" says the United Press,
sin the atmosphere of a too well advertised picnic.
was cluttered with the paper wrappings of nnumer-
able sandwiches. Mixed with the scent of human
bodies was the odor of fried chicken and the pungent
Whit of mustard ham,"
Z There is surely room for doubt that we have
found the right way to deal with crime and criminals
the way to serve ourselves best.
We must think this question through 1t is
grave and important matter that concerns us ALL for
it is in the name of us all that life is taken by the
law.
nnS you have thought about capital punish
raent and It's failure it might be we'll to speculate
WY these two are condemned to death.
Was it the shocking murder that put them be-
yond the thought of mercy was it the fact that
when they had murdered they became craven and
tried to blame each other?
Instead of the overwhelming passion which has
inspired other killings in the past and will inspire
other killings until human nature and human rela-
tionships are changed, these two turned upon each
other and tried to save their lives at the expense
Of the other.
There is nothing romantic in the spectacle of a
who has killed to obtain woman trying to
send the object of his desire to the electric chair
There is nothing to sympathy in the
sight of woman who threw away world for
dove coldly condemning the man she turned to-
This country and every country has had a ten
dency to sympathze with those who love deeply
or who inspired by great passions 1t has never
had any use for "squealers."
They we're condemned, surely and certainly,
when they blamed each other for this most shock
ing of all crimes.
What would have been the verdict had each
of these gone upon the witness stand and attempted
to take all the blame, to shield each other at the
sacrifice of life itself?
Would the Nation, instead of condemning the
"bloody blonde" to death then have been weeping
in secret sympathy with her great "love"?
Would it have made hero Of this cringing man
who used the excuse of Adam, had he risen to
heights of sacrifice just he descended to the
depths of brutality and tried to the woman?
Think it and then think again of the use
to which put capital punishment. Are we taking
life for murder penalty for failing to satisfy
our romantic ideals
Tomorrow, Will Durant will write his final COM
ment the Snyder His profound phosoph
ical study of the brutal murder and of the sordd
scenes that have followed it, offer about the only
light obtanable from this turbid mess 1t will pay
you to read what he has to say and it will pay you
even more to do some cool, dspassionate thinking
of your own on the subject.
Stimson Stops Kellogg's Show