The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
Fight To Abolish Capital
Punishment Continues

same in 1887, Minnesota in 1911
North Dakota in 1915, and Alask;
and Hawaii in 1857, while still terri
tories.
Delaware did away with the dealt
penalty in 1868 but reinstated it il
1861.
Gin Montana's 1868 Legislature
the Senate voted to abolish the
death penalty. The bill died in the
House without hearing.-PV)
Congress last year abolished the
mandatory death penalty for first
degree murder convictions in the Dis
trict of Columbia, the only jurisdic-
tion where such penalty was re-
quired.
New York State, the last jurisdic-
tion in the country to require impo-
sition of the death penalty for pre-
meditated murder, dropped that man
datory provision on July l..
Bills to abolish the death penalty
have been bottled up in committees
of the New York Legislature for IL
years.
Despite the laws permitting it,
there has been a growing reluctance
to invoke capital punishment, and
executions to punish crime are be-
coming increasingly rare.
Last year there were At executions
in only Is of the IA Jurisdictions per-
such punishment. That was UP
from AZ the year before, but it was
still the second lowest figure since
the Federal Bureau of Prisons began
keeping count in 1880. The peak year
was 1885, when 1919 persons were
put to death.
HARDEST HIT
Georgia, with its large Negro popu-
ation, leads the States in the number
Of executions since 1880, with 1862
persons put to death by electrocution.
New York was second. with 327.
Representative Multer commented
that majority of the persons put to
Heath are Negroes and other mem
oers of minority groups who cannot
afford good lawyers.
Since 1854 the death penalty can
De imposed in federal cases for es-
,ionage in time of peace, as well as
var. If jury recommends it, the
leath penalty can also be imposed in
'ederal cases for disclosure of atomic
with intent to injure the |
United States.
Since 1861 the hijacking of an air.
'lane in flight has been punishable
" death in federal cases. A model
email code proposed that year by the
american Law Institute would limit
he death penalty to murder.
Some enforcement officers, includ-
1g FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover,
avor retention of the death penalty
D keep down rising crime rates.
''It is my belief that great many
f the most vociferous cries for abo-
ton of capital punishment emanate
rom those areas of our society that
ave been insulated against the hor-
prs man can and does perpetuate
gainst his fellow beings,'' said
ioover.
"The savagely mutilated bodies
I'LL ulCHCdlAy IdNdSCo f1SbAiiio VI hiiNi |
erers, rapists, and other criminal
casts beg consideration when the
yidence is weighed on both sides of
lie scales of Justice"
HURcH GROUP DIsAGREES Ii
The National Council of the Episco- |
ii Church hit back at Hoover, de- 6
airing: /
'eWith the aura of authority which +
lrrounds such public figure, his t
1supported assertion is devastating i
sainst more enlightened penology, r
I'd in the eyes of politically minded t
gislators, outweighs all the careful
studies that have been t
AIDE of the question"
Oregon, which has sent 10 persons a
the gas chamber since 1880, in
uding one last year, will put the n
ntroversy to a public test. In No il
,mber 1864, the voters will decide c
neither their State will be the ninth +,