the effect of an execution is bad upon the
community--degrading and debasing. The effect is to cheapen human
life; and, although a man is hanged because he has taken human
life, the very fact that his life is taken by the Government tends
to do away with the idea that human life is sacred.

Let me give you an illustration. A man in the city of Washington
went to Alexandria, Va., for the purpose of seeing a man hanged
who had murdered an old man and a woman for the purpose of getting
their money. On his return from that execution he came through
what is called the Smithsonian grounds. This was on the same day,
late in the evening. There he met a peddler, whom he proceeded to
murder for his money. He was arrested in a few hours, in a little
while was tried and convicted, and in a little while was hanged.
And another man, present at this second execution, went home on
that same day, and, in passing by a butcher-shop near his house,
went in, took from the shop a cleaver, went into his house and
chopped his wife's head off.

This, I say, throws a little light upon the effect of public
executions. In the Cignarale case, of course the sentence should
have been commuted. I think, however, that she ought not to be
imprisoned for life. From what I read of the testimony I think
she should have been pardoned.

It is hard, I suppose, for a man fully to understand and enter into
the feelings of a wife who has been trampled upon, abused, bruised,
and blackened by the man she loved--by the man who made to her the
vows of eternal affection. The woman, as a rule, is so weak, so
helpless. Of course, it does not all happen in a moment. It comes
on as the night comes. She notices that he does not act quite as
affectionately as he formerly did. Day after day, month after
month, she feels that she is entering a twilight. But she hopes
that she is mistaken, and that the light will come again. The
gloom deepens, and at last she is in midnight--a midnight without
a star. And this man, whom she once worshiped, is now her enemy--
one who delights to trample upon every sentiment she has--who
delights in humiliating her, and who is guilty of a thousand nameless
tyrannies. Under these circumstances, it is hardly right to hold
that woman accountable for what she does. It has always seemed to
me strange that a woman so circumstanced--in such fear that she
dare not even tell her trouble--in such fear that she dare not even
run aw