Cabana's return no cause for joy

Perspective Editor Sid Salter remarked that former prison guard, warden and professor Donald Cabana's return to the State Penitentiary at Parchman is "surprising" ("Cabana's return to Parchman surprising," April 11).

It's not surprising at all. He gets a Crown Victoria with dark windows, four high-dollar years toward state retirement and an excellent chance to hawk his book and write another.

Every time I have heard Cabana hawking his book on a talk radio program, I have called in to object.

He should, then as now, not use his private catharsis with God and his angst over the death penalty to sell books and enrich himself.

Salter's article recalls the executions of Edward Johnson and Connie Ray Evans in 1987 in which Cabana was required to participate.

I prefer to recall Town Marshal Trest whom Johnson executed and Mr. Pahwa whom Evans forced to his knees, then shot to death.

I also prefer to remember 3-year-old Dressa Scales murdered and molested by Jimme Lee Gray, executed in 1983. Or Linzy Dixon, store clerk shot to death by Leo Edwards, executed in 1989. And, more recently, the execution of Tracy Hansen in 2002 for killing Trooper Bruce Ladner.

Salter concludes by saying having a "man of conscience" in charge of the prison is to be praised.

Does Salter feel that victims of crime and proponents of the death penalty have no conscience?

Don Drane

Madison