CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20483, 14 May 1930, Page 9

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

DEGREES OF MURDER The suggestion that murder should by classified by degrees, with capital punishment as the penalty only lor crimes of the first degree, was made by Dr Allan C. Pearson, senior medical officer at Wandsworth Prison. S.W., in giving evidence recently before the Select Committee of the House of Commons which is considering the question of capital punishment (states the ‘Daily Mail'). Dr Pearson said he thought the question of provocation was not sufficiently' considered, and that imprisonment for life might be represented by far less than twenty, years. He was certain that if capital punishment were abolished professional criminals, such as burglars, would be more likely to use firearms to effect an escape. The death penalty for murder should be the same for women as for men. “ They should be treated on an absolute equality,” said Dr Pearsoh. There could be no ch uth so painless as hanging. He thought the period between sentences and execution was too prolonged. It was quite an exception for men awaiting execution to lose weight. They did not appear to be unhappy. They seemed quite resigned, slept well, and ate well. Thev were allowed to smoke, and tlut had a soothing effect. A man awaiting execution generally improved in health. Mr Walter Middleton, chief officer, Pehtouvillo Prison, N., _ said he had heard many hardened criminals declare that if it were not for the fear of hanging they would always carry arms. Mr Middleton said he believed a condemned man would go “ silly *.* if it were not that two warders continuously , watching him often played draughts or cards with him. A murderer, he said, was never given drugs the night before his execution, but immediately before being taken to the scaffold he was offered a glass of spirits. Some men took it, but others declined it.