European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Death Row Usa capital penalty debate quiets by Fred Bales associated Pressi n the Chilly Midnight still the stale of Texas sent a lethal mix of poisons coursing through Michael Wayne Evans veins. Strapped id a specially designed table Evans a Brief statement and closed his eyes i m sorry he said took several shallow breaths and died. Evans died Lor the brutal robbery murder of a Dallas Church pianist a crime that look place a few months after Gary Gilmore s Jan. 17,1977. Death by iring squad ended a 10-year National moratorium on executions. In the 10 years from Gilmore s noisy death to Evans quiet end isl month at Hun Taville 66 men and one woman have been put to death. In the years to come death Row Usa is Likely to became More entrenched More routine and More efficient in the numbers it sends la the executioner today the . Death Row population is four times As Large Asil was in 1377. Constitutional questions about capital punishment have become a body of Law crowding Federal court dockets. Florida has established a special office to Handie death appeals Texas has to t a factory to keep death Row inmates Busy yet debate Over the death penalty has Quisley. Despite arguments about its fairness and effectiveness 83 percent of the people questioned in a new Media general associated press poll favored the death penalty. Only 33 percent saw its main objective As deterring crime. Fifty percent did t believe death sentences Are handed out Fairty. Even opponents believe capital punishment wiil be with us through the next generation. We live in a culture Tat is in a very bad mood said Henry . Head of the american civil liberties Union s capital punishment project. People no longer want the death penalty As an answer to crime and violence. They want it because they think he son at a Bitch should death Row s population is booming when Gary Gilr Nore died 460 people were under death sentence today 1,638 await execution in 33 slates. Four states Connecticut new Hampshire Vermont and South. Dakota have not convicted anyone under their dealt penalty statutes. Thirteen slates have no death penalties. The rate of growth an average of 250 new prisoners a year shows no signs of slowing. Florida adds 2v inmates a month to its death Row the nation s largest with 259 inmates. Ten years ago the population was b2. Although 16 men have died in the state s electric chair the Stream of new inmates has strained the system it s a constant cause of concern said Richard Dugger. Outgoing Warden of Florida stale prison in Starke. We re constantly displacing other inmates to make room Lor Texas with 242 inmates has some 70 murder Triana under Way Fiera the death penalty is sough. It has executed 20 men since 1982. California with 204 on death Row adds three inmates a month. Its last execution was in 1967. The number of death sentence being handed Down is even higher than reflected by prison populations. From 1977to 1385,2,110 persons were sentenced to die while 689 Lett death Row after winning new trials or a sentencing from slate and Federal courts. The number of death penalty reversals reflects an increase in the amount of capital punishment Law As dramatic As the growth of death Row. The supreme court has issued some two dozen death penalty edicts in the past 10 years matting it one o the Premier constitutional issues of the decade. Lower courts Are swamped with death now Appeal. Jul Cage John go Bow. Chief judge of the . 11th circuit court of appeals until this fall estimates each of the 45 to 55 death penalty cases his court reviews each year equals 30 other cases in terms of time and afloat. The Law in this area is very complicated a said As soon As. You Tay one Issue to rest something crop up of who alter is 17. 1stt. Antt waa mind Ltd no Lor to Yeara. The Nisi Gutt Nim ma1ut.5stt do Imanual Kuisle Cost Monty. Vou 5emi3tcsa file a refusing my today. Mob the -3vflr i he Iota to butt out Lortis 3je, Nants. In Alay Tivnen data . Ten it of 2nutl it rat . Bueiz Asiati strap a to state prison Gilmo Syta to ring in aft full tet it to it no Tow n a vary. Tameon a i Ftp Ian Pena a Flat Jann Kan Hob Nara i in Noi Arity Sta n a Jummer 3j 9 ears As us Ziem ser Ica Simian it a Tow it Page 14 the stars and stripes
