CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 2, 27 June 1911, Page 8

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

SHOULD IT BE STOPPED? BISHOP OF AUCKLAND UROES ITS ABOLITION. Auckland, June 23. Tuhi Kaka's last message on the brink of the grave. "I hope I am the last man to I* hanged," is likely to inspire a widespread plea lor the abolition of capital punishment, and it is understood that this will shortly take the form of a definite agitation in favor' of an amendment in the law. Speaking to a. Star representative this morning, Dr. Crossley, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, said that all thoughtful people must realise the intense difficulty of the subject. T,ho taking of human life was the deepest crime that could stein the character of a human being, and the sternest' discipline of the law would have always to be exercised in dealing with it. The statement that the Bible authorised, nay, even demanded tne taking of a life for a life was true. It illustrated the elementary action of law, which was revenge, but those who supported the principle of capital pun-

ishment on Scriptural authority were wont to forget that the same Scriptures on the same principle of revenge demanded an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 'Even in the Old Testament the executioner of vengeance was recognised to be God Himself EVOLUTION IN OPINION. Dr. Crossley said he would like to draw attention to the evolution which had gone on in England in regard to the '• matter of capital punishment. That ■ great legal authority, Bluekstone, wrote that at one time in the middle of the sixteenth century there were no less than 160 offenders awaiting punishment by death. It was a very ordinary occurrence for ten or twelve persons to be hanged at a single cxecntion, and from forty to fifty to be condemned to death at a single assize. In the same period women found guilty of murdering their 1 husbands were publicly burned by law, l and this custom was not abolished till i WiM). In the eighteenth century a solii citor forcibly complained that while ,- everything else had risen in its nominal f value and become dearer, the life of man 1 had continually grown cheaper. As t Leek said, "The enormous and undigested y multiplication of criminal offences soon a made the criminal code a mere sanguina ary chaos." At that time to break a i, pane of glass after "> o'ciock in the even- •, in'; lor the purpose ef stealing something h was punishable by di :ith. 7 Ti v tE FOR Till". LAST STEP.

"I dr-w attention to these facts in erder t . ask my co-citizens in New Zealand ti realise" the long way we have travell ' since the eighteenth century," added :> bishop. "I shall indeed be amazed if we do not now see the last and most enlightened step in progress made and capital punishment for ever abolished from our Statute Book. My attention has been drawn to the editorial comment of the Lyttelton Times, in which it is asserted" that public feeling has long been in revolt against the barbaric doctrine for a life for a life. That, I am bound to admit, I consider an admirablo appeal. In conclusion. I can only say that I hope some of the leading citizens of New Zealand will take up this cau»e, and, while I do not wish to be the leauer, any such movement will have my hearty support,* 1