Public Execution, no longer possible in the U.S?

[nuclearfm]

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/July-August-08/On-this-Day--Kentucky-Holds-Final-Public-Execution-in-the-U-S-.html


On Aug. 14, 1936, Rainey Bethea was hanged in Owensboro, Ky., for rape and murder, becoming the last person publicly executed in the United States.

Kentucky passed a law in 1910 stipulating that all executions be carried out privately in an electric chair. Ten years later, however, it created an exception for rapists, who would be hanged by the county in which they committed their crime.

Each county could choose whether to conduct the hanging publicly or privately. Of the first six hangings under this law, two were conducted privately, three publicly, and one—of the only white man executed under the law—was conducted before a restricted audience of 1,500, according to Perry T. Ryan, author of “The Last Public Execution in America.”

In 1936, Rainey Bethea, a 22-year-old black man, was convicted of raping and strangling a 70-year-old white woman in Daviess County. He was convicted to death and sentenced to death in a public hanging in Owensboro, the county seat, on Aug. 14.

His execution attracted national attention, mostly due to the fact that Florence Thompson, the “plump, matronly” sheriff of Daviess County, would become the first woman to carry out an execution, reported Time magazine.

Reporters and spectators packed Owensboro. On the night of Aug. 13, Owensboro was “host to the greatest crowd in its history” as many people held “hanging parties,” according to Time.

The hanging was scheduled for 5:12 a.m., at dawn. Between 10,000-20,000 people gathered around the scaffold, as vendors sold hot dogs and drinks to the onlookers. Sheriff Thompson chose not to perform the execution herself, passing off her duty to a Louisville policeman, Arthur “Daredevil Dick” Hash.

A drunken Hash pulled the trap-door lever shortly after 5:32 a.m. “The trap door dropped and Bethea fell about eight feet,” writes Ryan. “The rope tightened, and Bethea swung only slightly at its end. His neck broken, Bethea's head was bent sharply almost touching his right shoulder.” Bethea was pronounced dead around 5:45 a.m.

National press coverage was highly critical of town for staging an execution in such a raucous atmosphere. Many stories included sensationalized accounts of the crowd’s reaction, portraying the spectators as barbaric.

Ryan cites an article in the Boston Daily Record, which stated, “Cheering, booing, eating, joking, 20,000 persons witnessed the public execution … In callous, carnival spirit, the mob charged the gallows after the trap was sprung, tore the executioner's hood from the corpse, chipped the gallows for souvenirs.”

Two more rapists would be hanged privately in Kentucky before the state banned hangings in 1938. No other state would execute a man publicly again.

Since that time, U.S. prison populations have exponentially increased, mostly due to drug related offenses. In fact, the U.S. has 25% percent of the world prison population (not including those on parole), despite only being 4.52% of the worlds population.
http://blogs.alumniroundup.com/russy/files/2009/08/us_incarceration_timeline-cleansvg.png


So the question is. Would Public Executions bring back the harsh perception of punishment and detour crime?

[LnGrrrR]

Public executions probably would, but by no means do I think that's the right route to take. Get rid of the stupid war on drugs, and we'll get back to a manageable jail population.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

i'm all for this.

chuck barris from the gong show fame actually was pitching to production companies to do a Running Man type show. he wanted to get an inmate, i believe, and ask him one question so he'll live or die.

[coyotes_geek]

get rid of the stupid war on drugs, and we'll get back to a manageable jail population.

+1

[spursncowboys]

Utah had a public hanging, I believe. They let the guy choose his method of death and he chose to get hung.
Make rape and child molesting a capital offense and divide prisons with violent and non-violent offenses.

[fyatuk]

I have no problem with public executions, though I'd never want to watch one.

But I agree with Brock. End the war on drugs and decriminalize them (put them in the regulated category with tobacco, alcohol, etc), and release all the non-violent drug offenders.

[boutons_deux]

punishment doesn't dissuade crime.

You're comparing total prison population with volume of capital punishment.

In the total prison population, inflated by marijuana possession prisoners since the 1970s (America going totally stupid, but highly intelligent in subsidizing the PIC), very few are prisoners eligible for death penalty.

[coyotes_geek]

Utah had a public hanging, I believe. They let the guy choose his method of death and he chose to get hung.
Make rape and child molesting a capital offense and divide prisons with violent and non-violent offenses.

What does that solve?

[CosmicCowboy]

Utah still does firing squads. How cool is that?

[iggypop123]

public executions defeat the point. its a spectacle and heightens the criminal not make him worse. our system is one of rehabilitation and salvation of the soul.

[spursncowboys]

public executions defeat the point. its a spectacle and heightens the criminal not make him worse. our system is one of rehabilitation and salvation of the soul.
Not every states' purpose for prison is rehabilitation.

[boutons_deux]

"our system is one of rehabilitation and salvation of the soul"

:lol

[Wild Cobra]

public executions defeat the point. its a spectacle and heightens the criminal not make him worse. our system is one of rehabilitation and salvation of the soul.
I'm sorry, but there are some people who completely lack humanity and act like animals. I say put them down like animals.

[mogrovejo]

Public executions probably would, but by no means do I think that's the right route to take.

Yeps.

[boutons_deux]

"I say put them down like animals"

of course, you would.

The US justice system is too unreliable (corrupted/incompetent prosecutors/police/expert witnesses, incompetent forensics, etc) to trust with human life.

[Wild Cobra]

"I say put them down like animals"

of you would.

The US justice system is too unreliable (corrupted/incompetent prosecutors/police/expert witnesses, incompetent forensics, etc) to trust with human life.
True, but I would prefer just to get rid of the scum still. I'm not talking about all cases. There are so many clear cases where the criminals are no better than animals. Why waste our resources on them?

[Spurminator]

Reporters and spectators packed Owensboro. On the night of Aug. 13, Owensboro was “host to the greatest crowd in its history” as many people held “hanging parties,” according to Time.

The hanging was scheduled for 5:12 a.m., at dawn. Between 10,000-20,000 people gathered around the scaffold, as vendors sold hot dogs and drinks to the onlookers.

Ah, the good old days...

[101A]

All of you say "Legalize Drugs" have obviously never seen the ACTUAL affect of Crack on a life.

I have.

My brother in law is currently in a Prison in Lubbock (moved from Huntsville last week) - not for possession of Crack; but for the myriad things he has done to get the money to pay for it; primarly hot checks - and a single assault.

Been strung out for 16 years; NOTHING stops him; been in jail, multiple rehabs, hell, he's 37 now; an insulin dependent diabetic on DIALYSIS - and he STILL tries to use when he's not in jail. Hasn't held a productive job his entire adult life; been hospitalized twice when he stiffed a dealer; and many times when his using caused him to not take his insulin and slip into a dibetic COMA.

That shit should NEVER be legalized. It is the Devil.

[jack sommerset]

Bring back stoning to death. Whoever wants to throw at the perp can. Government can pay per view and get this economy going.

[boutons_deux]

"I would prefer just to get rid of the scum still"

I repeat, there's plenty of scum in the legal system.

[boutons_deux]

"All of you say "Legalize Drugs" have obviously never seen the ACTUAL affect of Crack on a life."

There's a huge difference between marijuana and crack, even between heroin and crack.

Legalize marijuana does not mean legalize crack or meth or other destructive drug.

[jack sommerset]

"All of you say "Legalize Drugs" have obviously never seen the ACTUAL affect of Crack on a life."

There's a huge difference between marijuana and crack, even between heroin and crack.

Legalize marijuana does not mean legalize crack or meth or other destructive drug.

It would make life much more tolerable if they would legalize pot!

[hope4dopes]

Oh yeah if this country didn't have crucifixsion it'd be in a right bloody mess, nail em up, nail some sense into them.

[DarkReign]

So the question is. Would Public Executions bring back the harsh perception of punishment and detour crime?

I think you meant "deter".

The article lays out a bunch of facts and draws all the wrong conclusions.

To answer your question, no, harsh punishment is no deterent for crime. It never has been, it never will be.

Some people are predators, some are prey. People will murder, rape and steal on the final day of humanity's time on Earth. This is human nature.

[LnGrrrR]

All of you say "Legalize Drugs" have obviously never seen the ACTUAL affect of Crack on a life.

I have.

My brother in law is currently in a Prison in Lubbock (moved from Huntsville last week) - not for possession of Crack; but for the myriad things he has done to get the money to pay for it; primarly hot checks - and a single assault.

Been strung out for 16 years; NOTHING stops him; been in jail, multiple rehabs, hell, he's 37 now; an insulin dependent diabetic on DIALYSIS - and he STILL tries to use when he's not in jail. Hasn't held a productive job his entire adult life; been hospitalized twice when he stiffed a dealer; and many times when his using caused him to not take his insulin and slip into a dibetic COMA.

That shit should NEVER be legalized. It is the Devil.

Many people have been ruined by alcohol. Does this mean we should make that illegal? What about other addictive substances?

The fact is, people will get drugs one way or another. Decriminalizing them might make it easier for some people to get drugs; yes. But it would also make it easier to get help, as it would remove some of the taboo of drug usage. As well, the government could ensure that drugs weren't mixed with other harmful chemicals.

Additionally, getting rid of the black market would also lower prices, which would help prevent financial distress to junkies.

[LnGrrrR]

Other benefits of reducing the war on drugs:

Less money spent maintaining prisons and prisoners
Reducing "no-knock" raids
Reducing the money terrorists receive from drugs to further their ends
More liberty

[DarkReign]

All of you say "Legalize Drugs" have obviously never seen the ACTUAL affect of Crack on a life.

I have.

My brother in law is currently in a Prison in Lubbock (moved from Huntsville last week) - not for possession of Crack; but for the myriad things he has done to get the money to pay for it; primarly hot checks - and a single assault.

Been strung out for 16 years; NOTHING stops him; been in jail, multiple rehabs, hell, he's 37 now; an insulin dependent diabetic on DIALYSIS - and he STILL tries to use when he's not in jail. Hasn't held a productive job his entire adult life; been hospitalized twice when he stiffed a dealer; and many times when his using caused him to not take his insulin and slip into a dibetic COMA.

That shit should NEVER be legalized. It is the Devil.

Youre right, but his time in prison is a result of the property crimes he committed, not the crack.

I know crack users who are not all out fucking crackheads, carpet-cruising all afternoon looking for a little slice of bo-bo they may have dropped on the floor.

Or walking through their house only to find every handle on every door off and deconstructed never to be put back together.

I know crack, but I rarely have ever known a crackhead. Is it a horrible drug?

Yes, of course. Should it be legal? Of course not. Should it be decriminalized? Absolutely.

Because crack is a drug...a horrible drug, yes, but a drug. Some people can handle it, most (70%+) cannot. When they commit crimes for purposes of money, thats what theyll go to prison for, not possession or some lame 3 Strikes Law.

There will be addicts, but it will not get worse than it is already, IMO. I remember being a kid, and this is no bullshit, it was easier to get cocaine than it was to get alcohol. How fucked up is that?

[101A]

Many people have been ruined by alcohol. Does this mean we should make that illegal? What about other addictive substances?

The fact is, people will get drugs one way or another. Decriminalizing them might make it easier for some people to get drugs; yes. But it would also make it easier to get help, as it would remove some of the taboo of drug usage. As well, the government could ensure that drugs weren't mixed with other harmful chemicals.

Additionally, getting rid of the black market would also lower prices, which would help prevent financial distress to junkies.


I have no problem, and would support the legalization of Marijuana; it is hypocritical for it to be illegal while Alcohol and Tobacco are not; Crack is WAY different.

There is no amount that a person will use, or spend on it (rocks are only $5.00 as it is - it won't get much cheaper) - users simply use ALL of their money until they are out; you can't overdose on it - and you are never satisfied; and you are completely, utterly addicted.

Believe me, I was like you; very rational; made lots of sense; just legalize it; regulate and tax it; everyone wins, right? Not if people get addicted with ONE fucking hit! Instantly create an addict when they "experiment" - TOO risky if some 13 year old could pick it up at the corner store- was gonna buy some Hubba-Bubba, but decided to buy Crack instead - oh well, WAS a promising life.....

Again, if you haven't seen it up close and personal, you can't comprehend (I watched my brother in law stick his hand in a RUNNING sink disposal to try to retrieve a rock my mother in law discarded!)

[101A]

Youre right, but his time in prison is a result of the property crimes he committed, not the crack.

I know crack users who are not all out fucking crackheads, carpet-cruising all afternoon looking for a little slice of bo-bo they may have dropped on the floor.

Or walking through their house only to find every handle on every door off and deconstructed never to be put back together.

I know crack, but I rarely have ever known a crackhead. Is it a horrible drug?

Yes, of course. Should it be legal? Of course not. Should it be decriminalized? Absolutely.

Because crack is a drug...a horrible drug, yes, but a drug. Some people can handle it, most (70%+) cannot. When they commit crimes for purposes of money, thats what theyll go to prison for, not possession or some lame 3 Strikes Law.

There will be addicts, but it will not get worse than it is already, IMO. I remember being a kid, and this is no bullshit, it was easier to get cocaine than it was to get alcohol. How fucked up is that?

Fair enough.

And, again, for the record, that is my brother in law's story; NEVER been arrested for possession - only for his crimes.

[LnGrrrR]

I have no problem, and would support the legalization of Marijuana; it is hypocritical for it to be illegal while Alcohol and Tobacco are not; Crack is WAY different.

There is no amount that a person will use, or spend on it (rocks are only $5.00 as it is - it won't get much cheaper) - users simply use ALL of their money until they are out; you can't overdose on it - and you are never satisfied; and you are completely, utterly addicted.

Believe me, I was like you; very rational; made lots of sense; just legalize it; regulate and tax it; everyone wins, right? Not if people get addicted with ONE fucking hit! Instantly create an addict when they "experiment" - TOO risky if some 13 year old could pick it up at the corner store- was gonna buy some Hubba-Bubba, but decided to buy Crack instead - oh well, WAS a promising life.....

Again, if you haven't seen it up close and personal, you can't comprehend (I watched my brother in law stick his hand in a RUNNING sink disposal to try to retrieve a rock my mother in law discarded!)

Fair enough. Like you said, I don't have experience with it, so maybe it should be banned. I'm more than willing to start with marijuana, and see how that works before possibly decriminalizing harder stuff.

[Wild Cobra]

Many people have been ruined by alcohol. Does this mean we should make that illegal? What about other addictive substances?

The fact is, people will get drugs one way or another. Decriminalizing them might make it easier for some people to get drugs; yes. But it would also make it easier to get help, as it would remove some of the taboo of drug usage. As well, the government could ensure that drugs weren't mixed with other harmful chemicals.

Additionally, getting rid of the black market would also lower prices, which would help prevent financial distress to junkies.
There are a few drugs out there that are no worse than alcohol. Legalize them. It would be foolish to legalize most others. I would make an exception for someone who can support himself if rich. Problem with these harder drugs, is they cost the public in one way or another. No social handouts for illegal drug users!

[Wild Cobra]

Other benefits of reducing the war on drugs:

Less money spent maintaining prisons and prisoners
Reducing "no-knock" raids
Reducing the money terrorists receive from drugs to further their ends
More liberty
As long as it doesn't promote more social spending. Otherwise, Hell No!