Tolkien on death penalty

[J. Barkley Rosser, Jr.]

>From Chapter 2 of _The Fellowship of the Ring_,
Part 1 of _The Lord of the Rings_ by J.R.R. Tolkien:

Frodo (hobbit and Ringbearer about the murderous
creature, Gollum):  "He deserves death."

Gandalf (a wizard):  "Deserves death! Indeed, many 
live that deserve death.  And many die who deserve life.
Can you give it to them?  Then do not be so easy in 
judging who deserves death."
Barkley Rosser