Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-21
States Reject
Moves 10 End
Death Penalty

SSSubh SuaSAH
CHICAGO, July 20 (AP).-
Moves by State legislatures to
abolish the death penalty or
to give courts more leeway to
impose long prison terms for
capital crimes attracted few
political supporters this year
and lawmakers rejected most
proposals.
A survey by the Associated
Press showed capital punish
ment bills we're considered in
at least 10 States.
The most significant change
was made by New York law
makers, who ended the man
datory death penalty for pre-
meditated murder. The State
was the last to drop the penalty.
Proposals for the outright
repeal Of capital punishment
were considered and turned
down In at least nine States.
That means that for two more
years Wisconsin, Maine, Mime
sofa, Hawaii and Alaska con-
tinue as the only States without
the death penalty.
Dies in Committee
Nebraska's lawmakers let a
capital punishment repeal bill
die in committee. Connecticut
rejected a move to retain the
death penalty only for persons
convicted q second time Of
first degree murder.
Other States rejecting capt.
tal-punishment repealers in
cluded Utah, New Hampshire,
Texas, Oregon, Arkansas. Illi-
nois. Massachusetts, and Cali
fornia.
Massachusetts lawmak-
ers have been overruled for the
present by Gov. Endicott Pea
body, who has announced he
will commute any death penalty
imposed while he is in office.
Iowa, Montana, Tennessee
and Vermont were among States
where proposals to restrict cap
ital punishment to fewer crimes
were rejected.
More than 20 States consid-
cred death-penalty measures in
1861 sessions, but none Of any
Importance was enacted.
introduced From Europe
The death penalty, introduced
from Europe, where it became
common in the Middle Ages, is
carried out in the United States
by hanging, shooting, deadly gas
or electrocution. In Utah the
condemned are given a choice
Of the rope or the firing squad.
Statistics show the death
penalty is imposed sparingly.
In Michigan it Is virtually
academic, as 1t may be used
only for treason in wartime
North Dakota, too, may execute
for treason and for murder by
a life-term convict. In Rhode
Island death is prescribed only
when a lifer commits murder
in prison.
The AZ other States, the Dis
trict of Columbia. and the Fed
eral Government have capital
punishment powers.
Yet in 1861, the latest year
for which the Bureau OF Pris-
ons has complete records, there
were only AZ executions by civil
authority. In that same year
the FBI reported some $500
murder and non-negligent nom
icide cases. The 1861 total. low
est in 81 years, was down from
81 executions the year before
Chessman Case
Among this years moves to
outlaw the death penalty, that
in California is noteworthy
because it stems from con-
troyersy over the execution IN
1860 of Caryl ChesSman, long
an occupant of death row.
Gov. Edmund G. Brown
backed abolition Of the penalty
for the fourth time since ne
took office in 1858, but q
proposed four year morato-
rum, after passing the Califor-
MIA Assembly, was killed by q
Senate committee. i
Lawmakers in Florida ana
oklahoma were unwilling to
tackle the death-penalty issue
head-on and set up interim
committees to study it. Florida
and Oklahoma both electrocute
criminals.
Public Concern
The Oklahoma action re-
Elected public concern over the
fate of two convicted killers
condemned to the gas chamber.
II followed a recommendation
of the States pardon and
parole board that the sentences
be committed to life imprison-
ment.
Large crowds appeared to
support the death penalty re-
pealer In Texas. Demonstra-
tors. including the small chill
dren of a man under the death
sentence, once picketed the
State Capitol in Austin.