RESPECTABLE MURDERERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 219, 15 September 1924, Page 5

RESPECTABLE MURDERERS.

IS HANGING JUSTIFIED? LONDON, August 31. Ts hanging a deterrent to crime? The question is -being largely debated / in view of recent capital offences. Medical experience would suggest the recognition of the fact that thero are two degrees of murder, and the reserving of hanging for the calculating murderer, whose obiecfc •is-'often robbery. The medical correspondent of tfif "Daily News" points out that some inmates of British criminal lunatic asylums, whose crimes are verysimilar to those of less fortunate murderers who are hanged, eventually 'become good citizens, and are restored to the community. The discipline in the asylum is much less severe than confinement in cells in Continental countries, where recovery is rare. Some homicides at Broadmoor have been treated for 40 and 50 years, whereas in Italy this type of criminal seldom survives more than a couple of years. Asylum experts consider that hanging ia no deterrent to passionate criminals, but a real influence to bnrSrlars and other professional criminals. The professional English burglar does not carry firearms fearing that he might commit murder, and incur the supreme penalty.