POWELKA'S SENTENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 10

POWELKA'S SENTENCE.

Sir,—As "Agoraias." your correspondent in. last' week's paper, suys, most peoplo arft stunned, at the severe sentence passed upon the prisoner Powelka/ At any rale, > all who are well-wishers of the help and furtherance of humanity, justice-loving, aiid who see. a littlo deeper than the surface of things, and understand, possibly, something of the forces of nature, hereditary tendencies, environments, and temptation; one working with tho other, or' perhaps in fearful conflict. Twenty-one years—is it possible? and so .young. I have 110 doubt that the sentence was passed thinking'that it was for the best, but—"o God that men could see a little clearer, or judge less harshly when they cannot see." In times past, sentences were much more severe than they are now. And how are things? Better or worse? ■ Surely there is no need to question. Not that I say for one moment that leniency of sentences, lias had first, place, in bringing it •about, "but. it has certainly not 'made more criminals, and we do not know exactly how much it has to do with lessening them. Our English watchword is (though with no monopoly) '"Fair Play/' at .lea'st, let no Englishman shame it.—1 1 ani, etc., ' SHOCKED, j