General Chat

Why not have public executions to deter others? Maybe the account below will make you think.

Catherine Hayes had her husband murdered and his body dismembered. Her defence was that he regularly beat and starved her. The following are extracts from newspaper reports of the execution. “[Catharine Hayes] was drawn to Tyburn on a hurdle, and there burnt alive, without the indulgence of being first strangled, as has been customary in like cases. But, to strike a proper terror in the spectators of so horrid a crime, a special Order was sent to the Sheriff to the contrary. She was fasten’d to the stake by an iron collar round her neck, and an iron chain round her body, having an halter also about her neck, (running through the stake) which the Executioner pulled when she began to shriek: In about an hour’s time she was reduced to ashes. 2 April 1726 Margaret [actually: Catherine] Hayes, who stands committed to Newgate for petty-treason, for being concern’d in the most inhumane and unheard-of murder of her husband John Hayes, (whose head was found in Westminster on the 2d ult.) hath confess’d, That she hath had fourteen children by her said husband; That having criminal conversation with Thomas Wood, a butcher, and Thomas Billins, a taylor, both Worcestershire men, they put her upon complying with the execrable deed, that they might get into the possession of her husband’s substance, and keep her without molestation; That when her husband was murdered, they took out of his pocket 26 guineas, 9 King George’s shillings, and 6 six-pence, 11 guineas whereof they return’d her, and kept the rest themselves. Catharine Hayes, as soon as the others were executed, was, pursuant to a Special Order, made fast to a stake, with a chain round her Waste, her feet on the ground, and an halter round her neck, the end whereof went through an hole made in the stake for that purpose: The fuel being placed round her, and lighted with a torch, she begg’d for the sake of Jesus, to be strangled first: whereupon the Executioner drew tight the halter, but the flame coming to his hand in the space of a second, he let it go, when she gave three dreadful shrieks; but the flames taking her on all sides, she was heard no more; and the Executioner throwing a piece of timber into the Fire, it broke her skull, when her brains came plentifully out; and in about an hour more she was entirely reduced to ashes. Just before the execution, a scaffold [i.e. benches for the spectators] that had been built near Tyburn, and had about 150 people upon it, fell down. A snuff box maker in Castle-Street, and a Gentleman then not known, were, as ’tis believ’d, mortally wounded; and about 12 other men and women, maimed and wounded in a most cruel manner: Some having their legs, others their arms, &c. broke. Some part of the scaffold being left standing, the mob gathered upon it again in numbers; and in about half and hour more, that also fell down, and several were hurt.

I`m with you Bob, plus `bring back flogging` in the form of a public gathering, to watch and jeer. Baz

me too but why was it abolished in the first place Paul

Oh dear... I was being ironic here. I think hanging is a totaly barborous (and ineffective) solution to the problem.

Perhaps we should have a system like some american states keep them on death row for a few years, hard labour, loss of privleges, then they may not want to offend again, they might not err in the first place. Helen

i agree that executiion should be applied in some instance.and in this case i would say yes due to the sheer fact that she could stating the obvious could have left him and found a better lifexxxx(:

I used to be totally 'for' state execution and then I read 'The Chamber' by John Grisham. I would ask anyone and everyone to do the same. There are, of course, instances that we would wish people could pay for their crimes with their lives, however, there is always the chance that they have the wrong person, we know that for a fact. What about their lives and families???

It was hard enough to go off and get a better life in 1976, but I believe if a wife was to run off in 1726 she was brought back as she was a possession of her husband. Can you imagine the retribution after that from him? Abigail

well there again.killing him was the only option!!!LOLXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX(:

just think of oliver!workhousesxxxxx):

EEK!

Execution by lethal injection for multiple murderers found guilty beyond all possible doubt, now that DNA is so good. A deterrent? maybe in some cases yes others no, but a saving on prison numbers, and the cost of keeping them on the public purse. Maybe bringing back the stocks for vandals and hooligans, to be put on public view would be humiliating for them, but wouldn't advocate the public throwing bad eggs, tomato's stones at them. Val

It solves the problem of Rapists and Murderers being let loose again to prey on society, and it saves the cost of keeping the bas..... alive in prison.

I agree with you totally Brian.

Depending on the crime and the evidence then capital punishment should always be an option for the court system. I realise that solving crime with another violent act may not seem the right way to go for alot of people but sometimes it is the only option. In today's society we constantly hear the words" The poor child comes from a broken home,he/she has had a violent childhood or they have ADD" I am not saying that these things don't have an impact on a child but who in this world has had a perfect childhood? Does it mean that we should excuse all crimes? Today's sentencing rules are ridiculous and half the time they never fit the crime...we had a case in Australia a few years ago that a man went to court for raping his neice ...the old sob story was played out - the bad childhood,the abusive alcoholic parents....every excuse in the book you could think of his total sentencing was only 2 years yet his victim will never be able to have children because of the damage...she faces corrective surgery when she begins puberty.... where is her justice

Bring back hanging please, and if these do-gooders don't like it, then let these villans live near them

This is a very touchy subject, but I believe there has to be harsh punishment handed out, especially for crimes against the helpless, children, animals and the elderly. This week in Australia, 3 youths have tortured a 9 week old kitten, they threw stones at it, ran over it with their bikes and then left it on the railways lines . All this was captured on camera. In a statement is was mentioned that youths who commit these kinds of crimes go on to commit worse as they get older. These youths need to learn that it is not acceptable to harm animals. If their parents aren't prepared ( or even know ) to teach them, then it is up to the rest of society. The "Cat o' Nine Tails", in public of course, may help but it may also make them worse. An eye for an eye used to work. Whatever is decided it should be quick. I for one have had a gut full of do-gooders. As some-one else said, let all the villans live in their areas. One area that does need a good looking at is the drug dealer/pushers. Send them all to Malaysia, that will get risd of them. Once we get rid of drugs, the crime rates will drop. My feelings on this is that too many of the top people in our world are gaining from drugs, and it is not in their best interest to get rid of them. And that is my sermon for today

Putting people in stocks and trying to humiliate and degrade criminals makes us no better. Its another form of bullying and we know this doesn't deter people just makes them worse, look at the cases in the States such as Columbine, all those children who committed those murders were bullied themselves be it at home or at school. Thats not an excuse for their crimes but it is a explanation. I believe there are some people that are inherantly evil but for the most part no on is the way they are for no reason. I do believe in life being life and have never understood the reasoning behind sentencing someone to life with the recommendation that they serve 20 yrs etc. I, for one, am concerned with the victims of crime but also for the victims of the justice system. I dont believe life was better for people when we had state execution and we know that it isnt a deterent. Look at Texas - has the highest execution rates in the States and STILL one of the highest murder rates!!!!!

nudge