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proceeding but one is to write two romantic love letters to women who
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have no existence。 His last proceeding of all （but less characteristic；
though the only true one） is to swoon away； miserably； in the arms of the
attendants； and be hanged up like a craven dog。
Is not such a history； from first to last； a most revolting and disgraceful
one； and can the student of it bring himself to believe that it ever could
have place in any record of facts； or that the miserable chief…actor in it
could have ever had a motive for his arrogant wickedness； but for the
comment and the explanation which the Punishment of Death supplies！
It is not a solitary case； nor is it a prodigy； but a mere specimen of a
class。 The case of Oxford； who fired at Her Majesty in the Park； will be
found； on examination； to resemble it very nearly； in the essential feature。
There is no proved pretence whatever for regarding him as mad； other than
that he was like this malefactor； brimful of conceit； and a desire to become；
even at the cost of the gallows （the only cost within his reach） the talk of
the town。 He had less invention than Hocker； and perhaps was not so
deliberately bad； but his attempt was a branch of the same tree； and it has
its root in the ground where the scaffold is erected。
Oxford had his imitators。 Let it never be forgotten in the
consideration of this part of the subject； how they were stopped。 So long
as attempts invested them with the distinction of being in danger of death
at the hangman's hands； so long did they spring up。 When the penalty of
death was removed； and a mean and humiliating punishment substituted in
its place； the race was at an end； and ceased to be。
II
We come； now； to consider the effect of Capital Punishment in the
prevention of crime。
Does it prevent crime in those who attend executions？
There never is （and there never was） an execution at the Old Bailey in
London； but the spectators include two large classes of thieves one class
who go there as they would go to a dog…fight； or any other brutal sport； for
the attraction and excitement of the spectacle； the other who make it a dry
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matter of business； and mix with the crowd solely to pick pockets。 Add
to these； the dissolute； the drunken； the most idle； profligate； and
abandoned of both sexes some moody ill…conditioned minds； drawn
thither by a fearful interestand some impelled by curiosity； of whom the
greater part are of an age and temperament rendering the gratification of
that curiosity highly dangerous to themselves and to societyand the great
elements of the concourse are stated。
Nor is this assemblage peculiar to London。 It is the same in country
towns； allowing for the different statistics of the population。 It is the
same in America。 I was present at an execution in Rome； for a most
treacherous and wicked murder； and not only saw the same kind of
assemblage there； but； wearing what is called a shooting…coat； with a great
many pockets in it； felt innumerable hands busy in every one of them；
close to the scaffold。
I have already mentioned that out of one hundred and sixty…seven
convicts under sentence of death； questioned at different times in the
performance of his duty by an English clergyman； there were only three
who had not been spectators of executions。 Mr。 Wakefield； in his Facts
relating to the Punishment of Death； goes into the working； as it were； of
this sum。 His testimony is extremely valuable； because it is the evidence
of an educated and observing man； who； before having personal
knowledge of the subject and of Newgate； was quite satisfied that the
Punishment of Death should continue； but who； when he gained that
experience； exerted himself to the utmost for its abolition； even at the pain
of constant public reference in his own person to his own imprisonment。
〃It cannot be egotism〃； he reasonably observes； 〃that prompts a man to
speak of himself in connection with Newgate。〃
〃Whoever will undergo the pain；〃 says Mr。 Wakefield； 〃of witnessing
the public destruction of a fellow…creature's life； in London； must be
perfectly satisfied that in the great mass of spectators； the effect of the
punishment is to excite sympathy for the criminal and hatred of the law。 。 。
I am inclined to believe that the criminals of London； spoken of as a class
and allowing for exceptions； take the same sort of delight in witnessing
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executions； as the sportsman and soldier find in the dangers of hunting and
war。 。 。 I am confident that few Old Bailey Sessions pass without the trial
of a boy； whose first thought of crime occurred whilst he was witnessing
an execution。 。 。 And one grown man； of great mental powers and superior
education； who was acquitted of a charge of forgery； assured me that the
first idea of committing a forgery occurred to him at the moment when he
was accidentally witnessing the execution of Fauntleroy。 To which it
may be added； that Fauntleroy is said to have made precisely the same
declaration in reference to the origin of his own criminality。
But one convict 〃who was within an ace of being hanged〃； among the
many with whom Mr。 Wakefield conversed； seems to me to have
unconsciously put a question which the advocates of Capital Punishment
would find it very difficult indeed to answer。 〃Have you often seen an
execution？〃 asked Mr。 Wakefield。 〃Yes； often。〃 〃Did it not frighten
you？〃 〃No。 Why should it？〃
It is very easy and very natural to turn from this ruffian； shocked by
the hardened retort； but answer his question； why should it？ Should he be
frightened by the sight of a dead man？ We are born to die； he says； with
a careless triumph。 We are not born to the treadmill； or to servitude and
slavery； or to banishment； but the executioner has done no more for that
criminal than nature may do tomorrow for the judge； and will certai