they know very well that, if they do not have a good prison record,
they can never obtain a pardon. A custom also prevails at the prison,
that has much to do in causing the long-time men to behave themselves,
and be obedient to the regulations of the institution. Every Fourth
of July and Christmas the governor of the State grants pardons to two
long-time men, so there are four chances annually for a man to obtain
his freedom. Before the governor will pardon one of these men, he must
be satisfied, among other things, that the convict has a good prison
record.

Any one can readily see that this is a great inducement for the prisoner
to behave himself. Missouri is the only State, so far as my knowledge
extends, that has this custom. It should become, not only a custom, but
a law, in every State. It is founded on good sense.

THE PRISONER'S SENTENCE

I believe in capital punishment. When a man falls so low as maliciously,
willfully and premeditatedly, to take the life of a human being, he
should be hung by the neck until he is dead. Before it is just to impose
such a sentence as this upon a human being he should have a fair and
impartial trial, which many persons charged with crime do not get. If
poor and unable to employ the best legal talent, the court should see
that it is furnished. Too often is it the case when a poor man, charged
with crime, makes affidavit that he is unable to procure counsel, that
some young and inexperienced attorney is selected, in order to give him
a start in practice. The consequence of this inexperience is that the
man charged with crime has to suffer for his lawyer's inability to
secure for him his rights. After the jury has brought in a verdict of
guilty he should have the privilege of taking his case to the Supreme
Court, and have it reviewed by that tribunal at the expense of the
State. No human being should be hung on circumstantial evidence,
unsupported by positive testimony. If the judgment below is confirmed,
then let the murderer be kept in close confinement in the penitentiary
for one year, and, if during that time no new evidence or mitigating
circumstances arise let him be hung by the neck until he is dead.

Let the execution take place in the prison, let it be private and
witnessed by but few persons, designated by the executive of the
State. It is better for the criminal to be hung than to be sent to the
penitentiary for life. While serving out a lifetime sentence he suffers