Show WARRED ON DEATH PENALTY Sir Samuel British Statesman States Statu man First to Bring End to Cap Ital Punishment t Statutes I. I The remarkable career of ot Sir Samuel Sam uel Romilly the British statesman came came to to- ton n a tragic end 99 years ago ngo He was vas the first Influential man In England England England Eng Eng- land to attempt to bring about the abolition of capital punishment notes notes' a In London correspondent When he entered entered en en- public life the English statutes punished with death nearly crimes ranging longing from murder and treason down to keeping company with gyp gyp- sies Romilly who was of French deScent descent descent de de- scent launched an nn agitation against these codes and In 1808 1603 he succeeded eded In repealing the Elizabethan statute which made It a n capital orr offense nse to steal privately from the person of ot another From that time until his death he waged war un unceasingly ensin Jy against these cruel statutes renewing his motions se session slon after utter session and although he be failed Jie cleared the way for the success success suc- suc cess cess of ot others who kept up the nelta- nelta tl u. u was devoted to to his WIfe and ond when she died October 29 20 1818 1816 the philanthropist fell into a delirium delirium de de- of grief Four days later his grief had so preyed on his mind that thai he lie went mad and killed Bled himself |