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Show TiiH attention of the legislators is directed to a communication in this iseue of the Hekm-d, in which the jvriter urges the abolishment of capital punishment. The subject is an important one, and worthy ol earnest consideration. We believe a very large propoition of the people are opposed to the death penalty being applied and comparatively few are very ardent supporters of it. The feeling against capital punishment is shown to a considerable extent when ever a murderer is placed on trial. Many jurors are disqualified from! serving on the jury because of their I prejudice against the death penalty. In almost every jury drawn three or. four, and sometimes a greater num-l bar, of those selected cannot act1 because they positively assert that i1 tho evidence were conclusive of' guilt, they would not bring in a verdict ol guilty if the I punishment of the accused miht be death; while others of the jurors de-! clare that they are opposed to capital punishment, and could only return a verdict of guilty because they feel it to be their duty to asaist in carrying into effect the provisions of the law day in g nothiDg of the moral or legal right of society in the matter, the practice seems behind the age, and not in keeping with to-day's civiliza tion. Some of the Btatea have abolished abo-lished it, and find that sooiely suffers nothing in consequence; murders are no more frequent. Utah can aflord to do away with this most objectionable objection-able and inhuman system. We lelieve that with its abolishment life would be just as safe as now, while the territory would certainly be advancing a long step in the better civilization of the age. |