Salt Lake Tribune | 1904-05-14 | Page 4 | The Place for Executions

THE PLACE FOR EXECUTIONS. Not long sinco, in connection with the case of Bothu, who had to be taken back to San Juan county for resentence, and who may have to be taken there for execution, we pointed out tho peril, in convenience, and expense o such requirements, re-quirements, while no benefit whatever comes lo the convict on nccount of them. The opportunities for a rescue or for escape are needlessly great under such practice, and the State has to suffer suf-fer all the danger, trouble and cost, to no purpose. In that same connection wo made the suggestion that there be but one place of execution of the death sentence, and that this be ln the penitentiary, under the direction of the Warden, as executions execu-tions of the death sentence are carried out ln New Tork and some other States. Thero Is a movement now on ln Illinois to bring the practice there into conformity con-formity with that of New York, abolishing abolish-ing hanging In tho different counties, and having them all done at the penitentiaries. peni-tentiaries. In favor of this, there Is urged, In addition to the points referred to above, that "evil consequences accompany public or semi-public hangings in the smallor towns. It ls a shocking thing to take life even lawfully and necessarily, neces-sarily, and the less the public sees of It tho better for the public. In addition lo this, the deterrent effect must be enhanced en-hanced by an unlmposlng execution, in a mysterious, Impenetrable Inclosurc, where there is no chance for bravado or spectacular departure." All of which Is true, and the argument for tho one central plnco ln which all execution? of the death sentence should be performed, ls conclusive. It only remains for the Legislature to act.