The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-05
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To the Editor:

To the Editor:
The discussions in your paper con-
corning the Snyder-Gray case again
raises the question as to whether
or not the death penalty should be
inflicted upon q woman. From q
legal standpoint, it makes no differ
ence whether the murderer Is a man
or woman. To urge that it should
is but to admit q complete victory
for the sponsors Of equal rights. ADJ
hitting then, that they are equal
in this respect the only question is
the ancient discussion Of abolishing
the death penalty.
This mushy Sentimentality against
the death penalty is rapidly becom-
ing a most serious element in our
national life. The United States
now has more murders, in proper
ton to its population, than any
civilized country in the world. The
city OF Chicago has more than the
whole of England. In the last fifty
years over three hundred thousand
people have been murdered in this
country. six times as many as those
OF our soldiers who died in battle
during the World War. It is more
IMAM the total number of American
soldiers who have fallen in all Of
our wars during the century and a
half of our existence. While the
number of murders is increasing at
an alarming rate, it is Of interest to
note that the number of executions
is decreasing, in comparison. 1t is
impossible to disconnect these two
facts or to discredit the deterrent
effect of the death penalty for al
though the gallows may not intimi-
date all malefactors, it strikes terror
into a vast majority who are I'M
affected by the menace of impriSon-
ment, whatever its duration. Life
Imprisonment in fact, for after the
imprisonment in fact for after the
passing of a little time, or under the
sway of weak, sentimental or mis-
taken Governors, or pardon boards,
the murderers are again set free,
not infrequently, to become MUIR
derers again.
The parties in the Snyder case
well knew before they murdered
their victim that it was wrong and
illegal to kill. They knew the pen
atty that might be invoked by the
law. They were, during their trial
and imprisonment, surrounded by all
the Safeguards of justice and their
conviction only justified after their
guilt had been proved to the entire
exclusion of all reasonable doubt.
Why should Ruth Snyder have SYM
pathy after the cruel, unjustified
and premeditated murder of her
husband?
Theoretical emotionalists and 9TH
ers have given much coloring to the
subject which is wholly unjustiflable.
Their objections to the death penal
ty seems to have terminated in the
thin air of their own imaginations
and they devote a lot of thought and
words of sympathy to the poor muir
derers without a consideration to
the wantonness of the crime or the
misery or despair of relatives of the
victim. Kind-hearted people with
soft heads.
The State is the sovereign and its
power to govern the conduct of the
citizen is we'll settled. If the State
feels that the safety and welfare
of society demands the infection of
the death penalty; then the death
penalty should be made punish
ment. There is no argument to the
statement that it is effective; that
it is adequate; and in conformity
with the words of the great Je-
hovah: whatsoever sheddeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be
she'd"
JOSEPH A. WICKER,
Attorney-at-l