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WHY MEN ARE HANGED
modating and condoning in the case of upper-class raisdemeanants, as ii is harsh and merciless when Jealing with the hclpless.
There was an old man, well above sixty, sentenced to death for killing his young wife. On appcal, the sentence was reduced to transportation for life. His advanced age was taken into consideration. I wonder hun he liked the change. Since the shortest terin that a lifer must serve is ten ycars, there was little chance of the man serving out his sentence. It is better to die at once than undergo the process over a period of il number of years. Yet, I have not met one single risoner who would not prefer a lifc sentence to the capital. Curious !
A prisoner's life is mortgaged. He cannot dispensc with it voluntarily. One should not be allowed to cheat the law. Justice is a vindictive Goddess ; and thcrefore she is so very unjust. Violation of the sacred right of property is the greatest of crimes. Criminal law is an instrument for the defence of possession. Penology is not corrective, but coercive. One is punished for having violated or threatened the right of property of others, directly or indirectly. Yet, the essence of his punishment is the deprivation of the very same right! Is it not illogical and unjust? There would be some justification if he was de
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