Mr. Hibbert has brought in a Bill for executing capital
sen- tences within the wells of gaols in the presence of "the sheriff, the gaoler, the chaplain, the surgeon, any justices of the peace who may wish to be present," and anybody the sheriff likes to .admit. After execution the coroner is to hold a regular inquest upon the body, and ascertain the cause of death, &c., upon oath, an -extremely clever suggestion, as the populace oddly enough believe in " 'quest verdicts." The spectators should, however, include one .or two persons not connected with the gaol, and if possible one relative of the culprit's victim, as we now only hang for murder. Even then we doubt if the public will believe that the same treat- ment will be meted out to all, while the best effect of executions, the visible proof they afford of the irresistible strength of law, will be lost.
Previous page
