“The Second Grave” by Carl Wedekind
Attorney Wedekind writes about violence in Kentucky’s history beginning in 1742 and through the end of the twentieth century. His purpose is to demonstrate that as the state has transitioned from the days of lynchings, duels and family feuds abolishing capital punishment should naturally follow.
The reasons most often given in favor of the death penalty are:
- Executions will deter murder by others in the future
- Society’s sense of justice demands executions
- Victim’s families loss and grief requires executions for justice and closure
- It is a waste of taxpayers’ money to keep a murderer locked up for life with free room and board
- Rehabilitation of a murderer is unlikely or impossible
The author addresses each of these and gives both examples and statistics to disprove each. He is for the abolishment of capital punishment and presents a strong case.
Because this book is dated (copyright 1999) I started to not review it here, but after more thought I changed my mind. It is still relevant to the discussion of capital punishment and the history of Kentucky is similar to that of other states. The truths apply universally and over time.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of capital punishment whether for or against. It will also be of interest to any Kentuckian.
Crooked Creek by Sue Mattingly 
I agree with him. If any of the previous methods had been affective, we would not have the ever-increasing rise in homicides.
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I haven’t read the book, however, I am against the death penalty, it sounds like a good read!
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