Who was RAINEY BETHA ?
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
United States
March 22, 2008 12:53pm CST
Yes, it is true. There was at one time public hangings in the USA. That last public hanging was in Owensburg, KY in 1936. The crime was rape and murder. The time lapse from conviction to execution was under 40 days. The criminal to hold the distinction of being the last publically executed person in the USA was, (you guessed it!) Rainey Betha.
Here's more of the story.
http://maxpages.com/prisonministry/DeathPenalty
Apparently, reporters attending the event made a big deal of the festive atmosphere surrounding the execution when writing about it. So much so that sensibilities around the nation were offended. As a result laws were changed so that a public execution was never to happen again in the USA! How about that? The power of the written word is mighty indeed.
Given that serious violent crime is more of a problem today than in 1936, do you think swift certain public executions, if reinstituted, would reduce violent crime in the USA?
2 people like this
3 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
22 Mar 08
I support swift and public executions as I believe that they do serve as an example to others as to what will happen if they commit capital crimes.
However, we seem to have a problem with overzealous prosecutors who can and have railroaded innocent people into convictions.
The most famous attempt was the Lacrosse players and that trumped up rape charge.
They will always have that with them, and yet the prosecutor involved only spent a very short time in jail, although the civil ramifications will be severe.
These are the ones who make our justice system suspect, and that prosecutor has now tainted every case that he has ever prosecuted.
When the law is corrupt and turns against the very people it is supposed to protect... how then are we to trust the law?
How would we know that the persons convicted actually were guilty?... Sure they were found guilty in a jury trial, but how do we know that the evidence was real, and not tainted by law enforcement or prosecutors that just wanted to close a case.... or worse... had a vendetta to fulfill?
As to RAINEY BETHA, given the nature of the crime, and assuming that he was in fact guilty of it... then swift public execution was appropriate.
The fact that it offended public sensibilities should not have been an issue, especially since it is apparent that the reporters overstated and exaggerated the festive atmosphere.
I have no doubt that everyone there was happy to see justice done... it was a terrible crime, especially given the time period.
It is still a terrible crime.
I would say that as long as the evidence is indisputable and undeniable... then a swift trial and execution of sentence serves the public good.
4 people like this
@AD11RGUY (1265)
• United States
22 Mar 08
I agree with Destiny, esp. this part: "...as long as the evidence is indisputable and undeniable...". If there is [/i]any[i] doubt, the execution must not take place. We have seen often, cases where the wrong people were convicted and it would be unforgivable if such individuals were executed. And this practice will apply to ALL individuals, from congresspersons and law enforcement agents to so called "common" people. If exceptions are made, the favoritism will cause a backlash that might escalate into vigilantism that would create even further complications for an already overburdened, difficult to monitor, justice system.
3 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Part of the reason we do not have swift certain quick public executions may be that it really would reduce crime. Then we would need fewer lawyers, fewer police, and less government in general.
3 people like this
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
23 Mar 08
I'm not sure that it would reduce violent crime.
You see, a lot of violent criminals get a thrill out of their own notoriety (hence returning to the scene of the crime to watch proceedings etc)... they like the attention it causes
A public execution like that would probably just feed their need for attention.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I'm not for public executions, and I have not doubt it would turn into a carnival atmosphere for some people and I find that disturbing but I do believe in swift punishment as long as there's NO doubt at all as to the person's guilt. The idea of children selling snacks to people gathering to see someone hanged makes me cringe more than a little, I must admit. I'd really hope we've gotten much too civilized for that to ever happen here again.
Annie
1 person likes this
