THE DEATH PENALTY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 48, 20 November 1928, Page 11

THE DEATH PENALTY

ARGUMENTS FOR ABOLITION An earnest appeal for an examination of the necessity of the death penalty was made recently by Sir Herbert Samuel, who, as Home Secretary in 1916. and High Commissioner for Palestine fiom 19’ , 0 to 1925, was himself called upon to make the final decision in many cases involving “the most painful duty that, men can ever be called upon to perform. After examining several aspects ot the question, he says: “The only point that demands serious consideration is: ilnsis it, or is it not, the f«.ct that the existence of capital punishment Prevents murders? Is it, or is it. not, probable that if that penalty were abolished, muideis would increase? Upon the answer to that question most men and women will be indived I think. to let their attitude depend. Now, here we are not loft, in the realm ot conjecture. M c have the experience el several other countries as a guide The J l»’ee Scandinavian countries and Belgium and Hol land abolished capital punishment long i<m. So have five other States in Europe and nine in Central and Southern America Of the United States of America eidit have followed the same course. The experience of these countries is that there has been no tendency for the abolition of the dentil penalty to be followed bv nn increase in murderous crime; in several cases there has been a marked decrease. It would not he necessary in the first instance to abolish the death penalty by law. The House of Commons might pass a resolution desiring tlie Hoine Secretary to reprieve in all cases of death sentences. (About one-half are reprieved already.) It could then be seen, over a period of years, whether in fact any unsatisfactory results followed. If they did, the resolution could bo repealed and the present practice restored. If they did not. the further stop could lie taken and the penally abolished by law.”