Was Dickens in favor of capital punishment?

Dickens stories are often presumed to reveal his approval of the death penalty. None-the-less, I think that in the case of Oliver Twist (Fagin in particular), he sends a different message. By the time it's time for the execution, his meeting with Oliver leaves us feeling compassion for the old man in his fear. Note, Dickens publicly spoke out against the death penalty. I believe his portrayal of Fagin's end illustrates those feelings.