BRUTAL MURDERERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 12

BRUTAL MURDERERS

A HAPPIER CHRISTMAS LONDON, Dec. 17. “The death penalty is a just penalty. People who talk of the sanctity of human life seem to think only of the sanctity of the murderer’s life, and to ignore the murdered,” says Sir G. S. Rentoul, K.C., M.P. He was one of the minority of the Parliamentary Select Committee which withdrew from the committee because the majority favored an experimental five Vears’ abolition. Sin G. S. Rentoul denounces the report as ridiculous,' a mere poetic plea, which does, not carry weight in the House oi Commons.' ’ “It coritains innumerable K' rtions from the poets, including rt Burhs, from historians, old preachers and lawyers, none of which has the slightest bearing <?n the evidence. We heard Sir Archibald Bodkin, former Public Prosecutor. His weighty words are barely mentioned, but the evidence of prison chaplains, who said how nicely murderers talk- in gaol, are greatly emphasised. We objectors wanted to prepare an alternative report, but the others wanted to rush the report, drafted by thejtev., J. Barr, M.P., into print, and thus give the brutal murderers at present in praoa a happier Christmas.”