Judge — June 13, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a religious/moral satirical cartoon from *Judge* magazine, titled "Whoso Sheddeth Man's Blood" (a biblical reference to Genesis 9:6). The cartoon depicts an execution scene: a condemned man stands on a gallows while clergy and angels appear in a heavenly vision above, seemingly to witness or sanction the proceedings. Below, witnesses including women observe the execution. The satire appears to critique **capital punishment justified by religious authority**—the irony being that clergy bless or oversee an act of bloodshed despite biblical prohibitions. The title invokes God's command against murder, yet the scene shows religious figures apparently endorsing judicial killing. The artist is credited as "F. Beard" and notes "The Golden Stairs" at bottom. Without the publication date visible, the specific execution referenced remains unclear, though this reflects 19th-century debates over capital punishment and religious hypocrisy.