20 JANUARY 1923, Page 12

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your article on

Capital Punishment in your issue of January 13th you say that "in Denmark, we believe, murder is punished by flogging plus penal servitude for life," and you add that "for our part we would rather be hanged." This is the strongest argument you could urge against capital punishment ; for if you would rather be hanged than endure penal servitude accompanied by a flogging, it is evident that the latter punishment is quite sufficient, and that the death penalty is unnecessary. However objectionable a flogging may be, it is less so than an execution, and at any rate gives the criminal a eliance.—I am, Sir, &c., Wallasey. J. W. amis.