The Feilding Star. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23, 1884 Commutation

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 22, 23 February 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURD AY FEBRUARY 23, 1884 Commutation

•■ There appears to exist in the minds of a considerable section of humanity the old leaven of the Mosaic Law, " Blood for Blood." Civilisation and the milder teachings of mercy appear to have had little or no effect in making any change in the minds of men. When blood has been shed, the outcry is always for the blood of the murderer. There are cases, however, where, from the peculiar atrocity of 1 the crime, from the hideous surroundings, and from a romantic impression created on minds which, as the results prove, sympathise with the murderer, without even a momentary emotion of pity for the unhappy victim or victims. A display of maudlin sentiment is made by a number of people, whose very souls overflow with tenderness for some bloodthirsty ruffian, who may have killed and slain his own family when under the influence of drink. If he is well connected so much the better. It is much easier to work up the excitement. A moment's reflection teaches us that the people who have this kind of sympathy with a murderer are really grateful to him for having satisfied their morbid craving for blood. The more he has shed, and the more brutal his mode, the kindlier are their hearts towards him for so amply satisfying their desires. In the case of the Dunedin murderer Pearce, who was sentenced to death because in a moment of drunken passion he stabbed and killed his paramour, who had been aggravating him with her tongue, after the manner of her kind, the Governor, with the advice of his Ministers, has been pleased to commute the sentence ' to that of imprisonment for life. On what grounds it is difficult to guess. There were no circumstances of extenuation shown in the evidence at the trial. Both the murderer and his victim were partially drunk and the woman provoked a blow. Pearce had already proved himself a dangerous man, inasmuch as he was previously convicted and punished for having stabbed a person. He was perfectly aware of what might be the consequence*, and accepted all of them. A southern contemporary remarks that this pardon may teach people who live a disreputable life, that as long as they take care to get moderately well drunk they may indulge in murder without fear of fatal legal consequences. By , promptly hanging a man of this kind, not only are the ends of justice satisfied, but a warning is given to others of his class. It is a mistake to suppose that imprisonment for life has many terrors for such men. On the contrary, the fact of a home, with good food when in health, and the luxuries and comforts of a hospital in sickness being provided for them, while the willing services of nurses — who pay special attention to specially great criminals — smooth their paths to the grave, gives a charm to their punishment which more than compensates ; for their loss of freedom. The question of the expense the country is put to in feeding and clothing these criminals we will not consider. On the other hand many are of opinion that hanging is the worst use a man can be put to. This may be bo, but the question really is whether the Governor was wise or just m exercising his prerogative of mercy in the case of Pearce or not. When men have wantonly taken human life it is a grave question as to whether they should be allowed to live.