Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-23
The Laws Last Warning.


Yesterday at the District Jail for the
murder of a policeman in this city,
September 26, 1926. They had been
given a fair trial, were accorded the
fullest chance Of appeal, had been sew
eral times reprieved for the sake of
taking advantage Of every opportunity
the law permits for reconsideration OF
their condemnation, had petitioned the
President for communication of sentence
and had been denied. They died as the
law directs, in punishment for a crime
for which there was no possible con-
donement.
1t is a shocking spectacle deliberately
TO take the lives of men for having
themselves taken life The community's
hope is that 1t will serve as warning to
others who are inclined toward criminal
ways, that it viii. demonstrate that the
law against murder is effective and that
the severest punishment of all awaits
those who thus transgress.' II the
example set yesterday in the memorable
execution Of the most severe sentence
persuades others that the path Of evil
living leads to shameful death 1t will
have been fully warranted.
The crime for which these young men
paid the highest penalty of all was
without the least justification. They
were marauders, engaged just prior to
the tragedy that finally sent them to
the electric chair in an enterprise OF
banditry. When accosted by policemen
and taken In custody for inquiry they
determined to shoot their way to liberty.
One Of the policemen was slain and the
other was wounded. The members of
the gang were caught, were tried and
were executed. They had forfeited all
claims for consideration by the cold
blooded nature Of their crime. Yet
efforts were made to arouse sympathy
for them. on the score OF their youth.
on the score Of their deficient men
tally, on the score Of possible doubt as
to which one of the trio actually fired
the shot Aat took life
Much harm Is done by these displays
Of sentimentahty for men, whatever
their age, who slay and seek exemption
from the law. They are to be pitied.
of course, for their possession of evil
dispositions, but they are not to be
excused because Of them. They had
their chances to lead upright lives, and
they threw them away. They gave no
thought for their own families. their
now sorrowing mothers, when they de-
liberately engaged In a career Of crime
They gave no thought for the families
Of the policemen whom they attacked
and one Of whom they slew.
Society demands, under the law
which prevails here, that those who
take life shall forfeit life These men,
who had the fullest opportunity to be
respectable. well behaved citizens. chal-
lenged the law and persisted IN conse-
ouence. Their memories should live. to
deter others who are now iifinrnting
is Illegal pursuits In the stead Of honest
industry. The shame and the sorrow
they have brought upon their families
should serve to conquer the evil forces
which tempt youth to destruction.
The crime for which these three were
executed was committed twenty-one
months ago That is too long a time
for the operation Of the law to be most
fully effective In deterring evil deeds by
example. This case was not complicated
1t should have been pressed to conclu-
sion within year, at the most, from
the sine Of commission Of the crime
Capital punishment. to justify its con-
tinuation, should be prompt as well as
unacceptable.