The Hemisphere: From Gallows to Gas

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Should Canada abolish the death penalty for murder, treason and piracy? A special committee of the House of Commons and Senate has been studying the question for the past two years, listening to a parade of witnesses that included Canada's official hangman, U.S. and British penologists, physicians, psychiatrists, chemists, lawyers, policemen and assorted humanitarians. Last week the committee made its final report to Parliament. Its net: capital punishment should be kept. Only change recommended: condemned criminals should be executed by electrocution or gas instead of hanging.