Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1897 — KENTUCKY MAY BRAND THIEVES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KENTUCKY MAY BRAND THIEVES

Kxtraordiuary Bill Introduced in the State Legislature. There was recently introduced in the Kentucky Legislature a bill providing for the branding of all burglars who were committed to the penal institutions of the State. The measure directs that nil such convicts shall have the letter “B” branded on both cheeks during their incarceration. The purpose of the father of the bill is to forever separate such criminals from honest, men nnd prevent them from hiding their past. The bill has man/

supporters and mauy enemies. Chief among the latter are the optimists who believe that criminals can and will reform under proper influences and circumstances. In such instances, they claim, the branding would be an outrage. It would prevent their living a decent, honest life, even if they were so inclined. It would also, they argue, drive men to more desperate crimes after their release, for the brands would bo a barrier to a life of anything save crime.

MARKED FOB I.IFK.