The Death Sentence.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 May 1910, Page 4

The Death Sentence.

« — A XKW ENGLISH HILL. It must strike even the casual observer that'there is something essentially revolting in the linglish criminal law which calls lor the passing ol the death sentence where oommutaton to a more or less lengthy period of imprisonment is practically certain. Mr George Greenwood, M.l\, has set himself to work to suppress this particular barbarity. He is about to introduce in the House of Commons a Bill to establish two degrees of murder with only one class punishable by the death' sentence. The text of the Mill, which is called " r l he Law of Murder Amendment Act," suggests that 011 the trial of .an indictment for murder the jury shall be required to return a verdict in one ol two forms, either guilty of murder in the first degree or guilty (if murder in the second degree. The death sentence, he suggests, shall only be passed 011 those found guilty of the "first degree." which covers only murder committed with "express malice aforethought." Anyone guilty of murder of the "second degree" shall on conviction, be lia.ble to penal servitude for life, or for such less term as the Court shall award. The Mill further provides that no woman shall lie liable to be indicted Tor murder by reason of her killing her child at birth or within one month of its birth, but that the crime shall be punishable by penal servitude not exceeding ten years. A further clause provides that 110 person shall be indicated as an accessory before the fact to murder for counselling or procuring any other person to commit suicide. Still another section provides that an attempt to commit suicide shall not be deemed an .attempt to commit felony within the meaning of the Hard Labour Act 1822. Mr Greenwood has based his Mill on suggestions disinterred from the report of a Royal Commission on capital punishment issues drafted no less than forty-four years ago. |ur ELECTRIC TELEGUAPH--COPYIIIGHT.] [.PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] niCKXB, May 3. Matliias Muff, who was found guilty of having murdered four persons, has been guillotined at Lucerne. This is the first execution that has taken place for many years in Switzerland. Muff refused to sign a petition asking for pardon, saying: "I cannot live nnd hear the voices of fifteen orphan children reproaching me."