THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JULY 25. 1888.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 6156, 25 July 1888, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JULY 25. 1888.

In yesterday's issue we published a cable , message from Sydney, which stated that i discrepancies had been discovered in the j evidence given by witnesses at the trial ( of the men who shared iu the notorious ( Mount Rennie outrage. As the offence with which they were charged, (tor | which four lost their lives, and the re- J niainder escaped the rope only by being j sentenced to long terms of imprisonment) is a capital crime, and is_ punish, < able by death in certain countries only ; ; it may be as well to consider the efficacy , of the death penalty not only such cases as the one under notice, but in fact in all cases where the supreme penalty of the law can be inflicted. We think it will be conceded that the object for which'we punish wrongdoers, is first for the protection of society, and, secondly for the reform of the individual. If a crime has been committed, the perpetrator thereof, when caught and convicted, is sentenced by the judge to suffer such punishment as the nature of his crime demands. If he has been guilty of murder, he is sentenced to death, while for other crimes of a less terrible character, various terms of imprisonment are considered a sufficient punishment. So far then the safety of society is secured. In the first instance the criminal is removed beyond the reach of human law ; while in the second case he is incarcerated in a strong prison, guarded by armed warders and every precaution is taken to prevent his escape. That society would feel more secure under the circumstances is not at all peculiar. But how about the reform of the individual? In the first case, three weeks from the time his sentence was pronounced to the time of his execution, is considered amply sufficient to enable him to repent, and implore divine mercy for his crimes. So, according to this, the criminals who is refused life on earth by people who are flesh and blood—the same as himself—who are subject to the same emotions, guilty of many follies; and merely human the same as their victim —is expected to make himself fit for the Heavenly Kingdom in twenty-one days! In other words the murderer, who is sentenced to death ] by the judge, is considered too wicked! ! to be allowed to live on this earth, and 'among his sinful fellowmen—and yet I within three weeks he is to effect such a< transformation as to make himself fit to enter into the pure and sinless realm of ' bliss beyond the grave. The criminal may have been guilty of a foul and revolting crime; he may not have one single recognisable good trait in his whole [ character; he may be utterly debased ; • his offences may have been of such gravity f as to fully deserve the expiation of them J 1 by the forfeiture of his life—but is there t one .man amongst us, who is without sin, ■f and is so immaculate that he can judge even the worst of his brethren? "While r there is life there is hope," is a true sayP ing—and as applied to the question f' under review loses none of its forcible. ness, Permit the criminal to live, and 7 perchance he may reform, (at all events h he would have a chance of doiug so) but if he is made to suffer on the scaffold— ; his career is terminated, and an after life 6 which might be made profitable to '> society is ruthlessly denied him. Regarded. in whatever right—judicially i morally, or from any standpoint, capital, a punishment is a gross and inhuman e method of punishment—a relic. ol barbarism worthy only of the boot and thumbscrew of times past while it is r useless as a deterrent, for though r men are continually being hanged for '■ murder,, yet this fact does not frighten others from takiug men's lives e by violence.

But a greater objection to capital punishment than we have as yet raised, is the danger of hanging an accused person on evidence which, after he is dead may turn out to be false. In the Mount Bennie case, which created a great sensation, four young men were hanged, and five others sentenced to death—but in these, the sentence was commuted. Should the examination of jjje evidence lead to the discovery that the men who suffered for the crime at the hands of the hangman, were innocent —the judicature of New South Wales will be guilty of a foul murder. We think that the time has arrived, when the consideration of the death penalty ' as a means of punishing crime, find as efficient deterrent to it should enan . -Nation of our law givers,— gaged the a,.. •— n r county regardand that every colony. "* -Miah it as ing itself as civilised should u,-. altogether contrary to the spirit of enlightment of the nineteenth century. The following telegram was posted at the ; "Corner" yesterday afternoon by the manager of the Saxon" 286 loads of general dirt crushed for 510oz melted gold, —F, James." Mrs G. White intimates that she is prepared to attend as weekly or monthly nurse. 1 Any one requiring her services can ; engage her by calling at her residence Beach road, three doors from Burke street, i Attention is directed to an alteration in ■ Mr. R. T. Doughs' advertisement which • appears before the leader, by whioh it will , seen he is offering boncdust, Oamaru table . potatoes, and kidney seed potatoes very . cheap at ship's side.

The lady referred to in our last issue, who was credited, by rumour, with hayiu? discovered a small gold mine, called at our office yesterday and informed us that the rumour was, like many others, without foundation.

At the entertainment in the Oddfellows' Hall last evening an amusing eircumstanco occurred, Immediately behind a well known and highly respected apostle of Blue Ribbonism, sat a playful youth, wb.o whiled the time away by every now and then tickling the gentleman aforesaid on the head and ears with a piece of rag; suspended to the end of a piece of string, and which was tied to a piece of stick. To observe the victim [brushing away what ho took evidently to bo an immonKc bluebottle wua decidedly laughable.

Some enterprising individual is advertising m the Auckland " Star" tor a male monkey. The funeral of thelateMrWorthington took place yesterday afternoon and was largely attended by the friends of the deceased who paid a last tribute of respect, by following his remains to the Shortland cemetery. The following telegram was despatched to the member for Thames, Colonel Eraser M,H,R yesterday: " Mayor asks jOu to refer to Hansard No 15, page 392, re Home for aged West Coast miners, and to move iu the House that a block of land be set apart for the same purpose for Thames and Coromandel miners.—E. C. Dean, Town Clerk." The Rink last evening was largely attended on the occasion of the ladies' fashionable night. Mr Beattie is busily engaged preparing for the grand carnival which takes place on Monday next. A large number of tickets have already been disposed of, and are still in great demand. We would remind those purchasing tickets during the present week of the advantage of securing seats before the doors are open to the public, Tea and light refreshments will he supplied to ladies during the evening free of charge, for which purpose a special room has been prepared. Several visitors from Auckland and elsewhere are expected, and the carnival, judging from the arrangements being made by Mr Beattie, promises to be a great success in every respect.