The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-03
Capital Punishment Meets
DiSapprovaI of All in
QUESTIONABLE.
BY ALLENE SUMNER
NEA Service Writer

copyright, 1927. NEA Service, Inc.)
| VXTOMAN'S inhumanity to wom-
w an is supposed to be pro-
verbal and universal.
Which is exactly why no smart
defense attorney takes a chance
with woman in his jury box when
another woman sits in the prison.
er's seat.
Which is also why, of course,
verybody expected that the sister
hood of this country would band
itself together to insist on the
death chair for Ruth Snyder, con-
victed Of the murder Of her hus-
band and sentenced to die on
Jan. II.
But the sisterhood fools us!
Want Equal Mercy
A QUESTIONABLE submitted to sew
eral of the country's leading women
by NEA Service, Inc, brings forth
the interesting fact that these wom-
en- unanimously want Ruth Snyder
shown the same mercy, no more and
no less, that is shown her partner
in crime, Henry Judd Gray, the
little rabbit man" who helped her
WELD the sash-weight and picture
wire.
mo capital punishment for any
body-not even such atrocious, con-
temptible murderers as these two, -
runs the almost unanimous opinion
Of these famous women.
Read what they say:
Amelia Galli-C urci, prima donna
1.-THE question is not what to do
with Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray,
who are entitled to the same con-
sideration, no more and no less, as
other offenders, but what to do with
the law.
Not in Modern Spirit
'The idea of capital punishment
is to me abhorrent and not in keep
ing with the spirit Of modern Amer
lea.
Elsie Janis, actress:
IT don't feel I am qualified to sit
in judgment, but do not like CAPT
tai punishment"
Americas foremost woman of the
year"-Eva lie Gallienne, actress
and theatrical producer:
"I do not believe in capital pun
ishment for anybody at any time. "
Kathleen Norris, writer:
II have followed the Snyder Gray
case carefully in the newspapers and
appreciate its atrocious features, but
cannot feel that their execution
would be anything more than an
other murder in a different and
particularly cruel FORM"
Gloria Swanson, actress:
"I do not believe in capital pun
ishment. Two wrongs do not make
a right"
Won't Commit Themselves
Leaders al women's organizations,
such as Miss Belle Sherwin of the
National League of Women Voters,
Miss Lena Phillips of the National
Federation Of Business Womens
Clubs, and Mrs. John Sherman OF
the National Federation of Women's
Clubs, refused to comment.
Even women in public life avoided
the question. CongresSwoman Flor
ence P. Kahn sidestepped with a
plea that she was unqualified to
express an opinion"
Prominent women judges and at
torneys raised the plea that 1t was
"unethicap' to attempt to dictate tc
Governor AL Smith what to do.
Ruth Hale, president of the Lucy
Stone League and president Of the
League to Abolish Capital Punish
ment, made it very clear that heI
belief that Ruth Snyder should es-
cape the death chair was positively
coupled with similar belief that
Gray also should escape.
Hates Capital Punishment
"My interest is motiyated by the
strongest equal rights belief as well
as hatred of capital punishment,
said she.
"If Governor Smith must respect
the laws of the State and send these
two to the chair, would certainly
if I were AL Smith, go drown my
self in the Hudson River.
II think that of all criminals Mrs
Snyder is the most contemplate
There is not thing about the wom-
an worth saving. The fact that she
is a woman only makes her lower
and more despicable. But I wouldn't
advocate the death chair for 9
woman"