The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-07-12
SCORES SNYDER
DEATH EDICT

The letter Of the Rev. Charles F.
Noble. of Alexandra, published re.
Gently in The Washington Times
defending capital punishment and
expressing the opinion that Mrs,
Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray should
be executed, has stirred the wrath
of e. B. Fisher, of Montrose Ave,
Jefferson Park, Va.
Cites Biblical Law
Mr.. Fisher denounces capital pun.
ishment, declaring that it is counter
to the entire spirit OF Christianity
and high civilization. His letter
follows:
IT am perfectly willing to con-
cede that positive injunction
seems to hive been given to Noah
in the early age OF the world to
require blood for blood, but am
unable to find where our present
mode of taking human life was any
where in vogue in the worlds early
history. If the shedding of human
blood is deemed necessary in order
to conform to the command, most
certainly our present system of
taking life is not in accordance with
the sacred history. A change should
be adopted so that the scriptures
may have their full effect,
THE command in Genesis 9:6 IL
very emphatic, who so sheds mans
blood by man shall his blood be
she'd There are no first or second
degrees, no manslaughter or plea
of insanity. Who so killed must
likewise be killed. Rev. Mr.. Noble
no doubt will say that we have no
authority to ignore this solemn com.
mand. There are SO crimes under
the Mosaic Code punishable by
death. What right have we to
abolish almost all the other com.
mands and uphold this one?
Notes Change Of Time
However proper and wholesome
this law may have been at that
age Of the world, it cannot be con.
sistently applied now. 1t came into
being before modern legislation and
enactments were known, before
prisons and iails were erected. and
before society had assumed its
present existence. You apply the
social system as practiced by the
Hebrews in that day and YOU will
overturn the very foundation upon
which our social system exists.
carry 1t to a logical conclusion and
the constitution of the United States
ana every State in the Union will
suddenly disappear. 1t did not for.
bid slavery. 1t approved or at
least tolerated polygamy. 1t ia silent
on almost every institution we
praise.
Mr.. Noble says that Christ did
not forbid capital punishment, but
arther sanctioned it, but he failed
to tell us where in the New Tesla.
ment q support OF this doctrine
could be found. Christ at least
repudiated the doctrine of an eve
Tor an eye and a tooth for a
TOOTH 'Ye have heard that It hath
been said an eye for an eve and a
tooth for tooth, but / say unto
You. resist not evil, etc. Read
Ezekiel 2:25: Wherefore gave
them statutes that were not good
and Judgments whereby they should
not live.'
Mr.. Noble says that If the law
is abolished, mob law win prevail.
Do we not find the mob-spirit more
prevalent in Arizona, Kansas, Maine,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North
Dakota, South Dakota. Oregon.
Rhode Island, Washington. and
Wisconsin, than in neighbor States?
These States have abolished the
law.
Raps Virginia Ruling
Those who would oppose the
growing movement for the abolition
of the law argue that it is the
example that counts. If this be
the case, why do we make execu-
tions private? Why does Virginia.
Tor instance, make it a nisdeneanor
Tor the press to be informed of
the details Of an execution? I'm.
DERIVING the execution of a criminal
there is the presumption that in
paying the penalty he is receiving
his just desert. There is no recogni.
ton Of the fact that social condi.
tons over which he had no control
may have been, and probably were,
the principal factor in the COM
mission Of the crime,
Crime cannot be eliminated bv
violence. If the Government ever
expects to suppress men from kill.
ing one another, it must first re-
press its own vengeful action.
"CADifAl n1ynishy1oA1& Ss Ia. -