Texas Executions

Re “Texas Executes Convicted Murderer in Case Surrounded by Controversy,” June 23:

The Bible contains the following wise advice in Deuteronomy (17:6): “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” This wise and ancient rule is repeated in Numbers (35:30).

Texas Gov. George W. Bush has frequently stated that his political and personal principles are based on the teachings of Jesus and the Bible in general. Gary Graham was executed based on the evidence of one eyewitness and nothing more. I guess Bush only acts on these beliefs when it suits his political or personal agenda.

PHILIP CRAMER

Sherman Oaks

*

I’m amazed at how much more insightful Bianca Jagger, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, etc. are as compared with the 33 state and federal judges (including the Supreme Court) who heard the Graham case. I suggest we turn all court (in fact all government) decisions over to them and save the cost of maintaining a judicial system.

WILLIAM W. PLUMLEE

Westminster

*

Bush proclaims, “As far as I’m concerned, there has not been one innocent person executed since I’ve been governor” (June 22). Now, I wonder which is worse, the extent of his concern or the extent of his intelligence?

ANDREW R. HENDERSON

Los Angeles

*

If Lawrence C. Marshall (Commentary, June 21) was really that concerned that Graham was innocent, then why did he not ask President Clinton to intervene? Instead, he only called on Bush to stop the execution. The only reason for the “newly invigorated national debate over the death penalty” is because Bush is a candidate for the presidency.

GREG FOX

Fullerton

*

With the presidential election 4 1/2 months away, how can the candidacy of Bush survive the outcry accompanying each of the many executions scheduled in Texas? The media spotlight on Texas’ death row cases reveals criminal trials so flawed they cannot withstand scrutiny. Yet Bush has frequently expressed confidence that all the people executed on his watch were guilty. It strains all credulity to think he is right. And while 66% of Americans support the death penalty per se, implicit in that viewpoint is proper and legal justice. One wonders if there are powerful enough forces within the Bush machine to put the brakes on the Texas death chamber agenda, at least until after the election.

As for the rest of us, something certainly has to be done about this scandal, one that kills people after delivering poorest-of-the-poor justice in the richest land on Earth.

VALERIE SANFORD

Woodland Hills

*

Some years ago the death penalty was put to a statewide vote. It passed overwhelmingly. Some people still don’t like the idea. Every time someone is put to death, even in another state, these people start to cry about the person being put to death, yet they don’t shed one tear for the person who is really deserving of their tears, the victim.

ED APPLE

Lakewood

*

Will we all be just one “eyewitness” away from being executed under a Bush administration?

M.J. JOHNSON

San Luis Obispo