Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 26, 2006 15:21:05 GMT -5
It's been nearly 100 years since someone in North Dakota was given the
death penalty. It's been abolished since then, but it can still apply in
federal cases.
In the Dru Sjodin case, many are saying they are in favor of the jurors'
decision to put Alfonso Rodriguez to death. State historians say attitudes
periodically change whenever a particularly heinous crime has has been
committed, and then there`s usually a movement to reinstate the death
penalty.
"At last," says a resident. "At last."
Much of the community reaction is in favor of the death penalty for
Alfonso Rodriquez.
"He should have been killed 5 months ago," says another resident.
Many in the community say there's no clash when it comes to religion when
looking at the death penalty.
"I think it`s a good idea and I have no conflict," says one North Dakotan.
Much of the community says they think it is a just punishment.
"I've always thought that if somebody would kill somebody, then they
should probably be put to rest," says a resident.
"I think it's a good thing, says another resident from the Bismarck area.
"Maybe other kids would straighten out a little bit or whoever does all
that stuff, you know."
The last time there was a legal execution in North Dakota was about a
century ago when John Rooney was hanged.
"One thing that's kind interesting is that the abolishing of the death
penalty in 1915 was really only abolishing it for murder and of course
that was the only time that it was ever applied," says Gerald Newborg of
the State Historical Society. "It wasn`t until 1973 that it was abolished
for all crimes in the state."
There were 2 other capital cases in North Dakota after 1905.
"One was where 2 farm migrant workers who killed 2 other farm migrant
workers and one of them admitted the murders and said the other guy killed
1 and he killed 1," says Justice Dale Sandstrom of the North Dakota
Supreme Court. "The 2nd man said no, the 1st guy killed them both."
Both Joe Milo and John Miller were tried at the same time, but spared when
the 1915 state legislature repealed the death penalty. As a part of North
Dakota`s new criminal code, Justice Sandstrom says the 1973 legislature
abolished the death penalty for all state crimes, effective July 1, 1975.
(source: KFYR News)
death penalty. It's been abolished since then, but it can still apply in
federal cases.
In the Dru Sjodin case, many are saying they are in favor of the jurors'
decision to put Alfonso Rodriguez to death. State historians say attitudes
periodically change whenever a particularly heinous crime has has been
committed, and then there`s usually a movement to reinstate the death
penalty.
"At last," says a resident. "At last."
Much of the community reaction is in favor of the death penalty for
Alfonso Rodriquez.
"He should have been killed 5 months ago," says another resident.
Many in the community say there's no clash when it comes to religion when
looking at the death penalty.
"I think it`s a good idea and I have no conflict," says one North Dakotan.
Much of the community says they think it is a just punishment.
"I've always thought that if somebody would kill somebody, then they
should probably be put to rest," says a resident.
"I think it's a good thing, says another resident from the Bismarck area.
"Maybe other kids would straighten out a little bit or whoever does all
that stuff, you know."
The last time there was a legal execution in North Dakota was about a
century ago when John Rooney was hanged.
"One thing that's kind interesting is that the abolishing of the death
penalty in 1915 was really only abolishing it for murder and of course
that was the only time that it was ever applied," says Gerald Newborg of
the State Historical Society. "It wasn`t until 1973 that it was abolished
for all crimes in the state."
There were 2 other capital cases in North Dakota after 1905.
"One was where 2 farm migrant workers who killed 2 other farm migrant
workers and one of them admitted the murders and said the other guy killed
1 and he killed 1," says Justice Dale Sandstrom of the North Dakota
Supreme Court. "The 2nd man said no, the 1st guy killed them both."
Both Joe Milo and John Miller were tried at the same time, but spared when
the 1915 state legislature repealed the death penalty. As a part of North
Dakota`s new criminal code, Justice Sandstrom says the 1973 legislature
abolished the death penalty for all state crimes, effective July 1, 1975.
(source: KFYR News)