The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-09
M. E.TracySays:

IN asking the New York legislature to pass
law making the payment of ransom to kid
napers a felony Governor Lehman merely eX
presses the principles of good government,
public interest and social Justice
infection of the death penalty for kid
mapping would not appear to be so essential. AS
every criminoogist knows, the certainty of pun
ishment does more good than the severity.
Fifty or even twenty-five years imprisonment
would be enough TO discourage kidnapers if a
reasonable percentage of them drew it.
The crime has not flourished because the
punishment was so light, but because so many
cases resulted in a good profit and punish
ment whatever.
Promises of ransom and immunity coupled
with the willingness of law enforcement Off
Gals to step aside so that they could be car
red out, is at the bottom of this epidemic Of
body stealing. Every family that has paid or
offered to pay. can be charged justly with en-
couragng this detestable form of blackjacking.
AS Governor Lehman says lin this warfare,
We can not afford to consider the feelings or
interests of an individual when it conflicts with
the safety and welfare of the people as a
whole"
/ From a strictly personal standpoint, it
would seem quite proper for parents or rela-
tives TO buy back loved ones. especially if they
can afford to do so, but from a social stand
point it is a pernicious, futile, destructive
method
TT serves little purpose except TO ieopardize the
l. safety Of an incalculable number of people,
TO promote one of the most cussed rackets ever
| invented 10 put money in the hands of pecu-
liarlv detestable class Of thugs and TO make a
mockery of the law.
There is no doubt that if people we're willing
10 pay thieves they could get back large pro-
portion of stolen goods. or if murder were made
subjects of barter and sale much Of il could be
prevented but only at the price of wrecking
constituted authority and social order.
We have learned the risk Of compromising
felonies. in other lines. but we seem TO have
forgotten that it constitutes the same kind of
a risk in kidnapping We do not excuse people
who harbor or conceal murderers. who pay TO
have their buildings set on fire. or who encour-
age traitors yet the recent record shows an
astounding degree of tolerance for kidnapers.
TN some instances, We actually have applauded
l. pledges of pay and immunity, have argued
that. under similar circumstances, most any Of
us would do the same thing and have allowed
the impression to get abroad that it was all
right for the prosecutors and police TO remain
quiet, 10 facilitate negotiations with the GRIM
mails.
You Just can't conceive frame Of mind
better calculated to promote crooked enforce
ment. We actually have fattened the psychol-
ogy Of gang rule, have exposed ourselves 10 an
unnecessary and illogical amount of trouble.
actually have set the stage for our worst ele-
ments TO strut their stuff
The remedy does not lie in compromise but
n determination. BY no stretch Of the i'm
agination can the practice OF kidnapping be
squared with social sanity. BY no stretch OF
he imagination can the payment of ransom.
the connivance with criminals, the idea of
protecting thugs for the sake of personal inter-
EST be reconciled with the principles Of sound
government,