CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 April 1930, Page 3

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

LORD BUCK-MASTER’S VIEW M ISC. MUM ACE OF JUSTICE LONDON. 271 h March, lit giving evidence helore the ( apilal Punishment Committee Lord Buckmaster, who was l.ord ( haneellor in 1915-16 said he could not accept the theory that no innocent man had boon hanged. If Oscar Dialer had been hanged no more would have been heard of the case. Nobody troubled about a dead malt. , , , , , , Lord Buckmasler cited the Adolph Beck case and that of a man sentenced to death for a murder which Charles Pence later confessed lie had committed. If the death penally were retained, said Lord Buckmasler, murders should he divided .into three degrees. He was not satisfied that capital punishment 'was a deterrent. Social opinion was the onlv real deterrent, against crime. Hiimaii lifo was a sacred thing and not to he taken away either by an individual or a (government.

The Adolph Beck case is famous m British criminal initials. Beck, who was a. mail in good circiinisl.ancos,- was a victim of mistaken identity and sot veil several years' penal servitude lor a crime committed by another man who bore a striking resemblance to linn. Shortly after his release from prison Beck was again arrested lor a similar offence and placed in the dock. It was then revealed that he had a double and the real criminal was arrested. Beck, then a ruined man, was pardoned and compensated. Charles Peace was one of the most amazing criminals ever known. He had extraordinary powers of disguise, both in make-up and features, and could twist his face in a wav which would deceive his closest friend". After countless daring crimes he was finally betrayed by a woman and sentenced to death for murdering a policeman. He then confessed that lie was guilty of a crime for which ail innocent man was at that moment in the condemned cell.