THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997            TAG: 9701080008
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   17 lines

DEATH-PENALTY REBUTTAL

In reply to Frank McGrath's anti-execution comment (letter, Jan. 1):

While I agree to a certain extent with Mr. McGrath's opposition to the death penalty, I would be interested in knowing how he could give an iron-clad guarantee that these cancers on the face of society will remain behind bars for the rest of their natural lives.

I also vehemently disagree that the actions of the mayor of Palermo were anti-death penalty but, rather, were decidedly pro-O'Dell.

CHARLES R. HINTON

Suffolk, Jan. 1, 1997