Show s t rt I r SOCIETYS n AIUTY I I I f i U The story told in our London tele i pram a day or two ago of the three I I failure to hang a miscrab wretch was i I ° f t one of the most horrible recitals that j ha e ever appeared in print fhe reading I i of the account fairly sickened people I I 1 and the affair will be talked about and I referred to these many years to come I If the law were capable of sentiment 1 J I the poor retch who was the victim of the i i 7 I j misery and unintentional cruelty would j be released from prison and set free as i i 11 ne who had suffered fully for his I I I j I I crimes I i i t Bnt this case again and forcibly f I illustrates the barbarity of hanging as a II mode of execution If men must be t I 11 i Jailed if society deems it necessary to destroy a human life in order to protect I the lives of others let the killing be i done decently and without vindictiveness jlll vindictive-ness and cruelty Tile death itself is II the punishment demanded and society J 111 lias too right to go beyond this in its 1 lip I I I demand Society has no right to be f cruel vengeful and vindictive and IiI t I i when it inflicts unnecessary torture II j II i I upon its victims it shows that it is yet I barbarous and unworthy For generations as people have I f attained II higher degree of r civil zahou in other directions there I I has been a clamor for more i I humanity in exocutions but the mat I i ma-t jority sentiment is ever opposed to I iJ i change we will cling to old rules and I I I systems with a tenacity that does credit cre-dit to our veneration but reflects sadly upon our judgment The Grand Jury 1r1 I J is an instances point inquisitorial I j I I I body may have been wise and necessary t f In its time but for half a century the + I j system has been one of evil and expense 1 41 F having few > or no features recommend 511 t fl fj II inc it et people are afraid to let it go I lest some point may be lost kl I There are a dozen ways for executing II I i criminals any oneot which is less cruel Ii f is speedier in its operations and in I i every way better than the brutal barf bar-f 11 I barons one of hanging one by the fl1 I neck until he is dead The r Jt man who devised this plan i j I I j 4 i 1 j was either grossly ignorant or heartlessly i 1 f I J i heart-lessly cruel The New York I i i i society of medical jurisdrudence has 9 I j lately recommended that the criminal be given his choice between hanging I and the guillotine the idea being that the latter is far the speedier the less y painful and altogether preferable it is III I 4 certainly not so savage as the halter But why not at once adopt some of the j painless methods of taking the lives of i those whom the laws say must die A t community can afford to be humane j I with a man whose life it takes and it is i 1 nothumEae to inflict torture such as was I j i imposed upon the poor fellow at Exeter 1 1 the otherday z 4 1 1 I r |