Mr. Ewart moved for a committee on Tuesday to inquire
into the expediency of maintaining the punishment of death, which he supported chiefly by showing that the chances of escape from the reluctance of the jury to convict were much greater in the case of capital crimes than of any other. In the ten years ending with 1862 the chances of escape for other offences were 1 in 4, while in cases of murder they were 5i- to 1. This shows no doubt a good case for some further classification of the crimes clamed under the head of murder, and for giving a lighter punishment to the less serious class of murderers. A system which awards the same penalty to Hall and to Catherine Wilson cannot be easily justified, but no jury would hesitate to find guilty murderers of the dye of the latter. Mr. Bright made a long and able speech against the bar- barity of our law and Government, and Sir George Grey, though he refused a committee, consented to appoint a commission to examine into the subject.
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