Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-11-24
CLEARFIELD, PA, NOV. "a, 1858.
cRtME-1Ts CAUSE AND PUNISHMENT

That crime is rapidly on the Increase, is
fact that forces itself upon the mind of the OBJ
serving and rejecting man. In our large ci-
ties, murders, burglaries, defalcations, de-
baucheries, lasciviousness. and the thousands
of lesser criminal acts TO which humanity is
subject, are of daily. il not of hourly occur
renee, and through the length and breaath OF
the land, there is scarcely an item in the dark
catalogue of crime that is not perpetrated.
The number of murders that have been COM
mitted during the last twelvemonth is truly
frightful, whilst robberies, pilferings, horse
stealing, counterfeiting and other fraudulent
transactions are almost numberless. We are
aware that it is contended by many that crime
is on the decrease but with all these horrify-
ing witnesses staring them in the face, we can
not see how they can arrive at such a con-
cIusion.
Where the primary cause, from which these
evils spring, can be found, is 4 problem that,
perhaps, is not susceptible of satisfactory So
luton; and yet many things might be named
that conduce to bring about this lamentable
state of affairs. The great disregard for the
teachings of pure christianity, which is dstin-
guishable eyerywhere-the lack of business in
tegrity, uprightness and honesty in dealing
the morbid spirit of speculation that is uni
versally rife-the worship of Mammon, which
has had the effect of introducing corruption
into high and low places-all tend to destroy
the idea of mo raj responsibility in the minds
of the masses, and to lead many to the COM
mission of offences against both divine and hu-
man laws.
We fear, however, that our Courts of JUS
tice, as they are called-whether properly or
not. We shall not at present pretend to say
are not altogether free from responsibility in
the matter. Although it is said that sslaw gov
erns man, and reason the law" yet the histo-
ry of criminal jurisprudence goes far to dis
prove both the propositions embraced in the
maxim, and, on the contrary, to establish that
other one which teaches that CLAWS catch flies.
but let hornets 60" 1t frequently happens
that comparatively innocent persons are Sc
rerely punished, and that villains of the
deepest dye escape through some trifiiug
informality in an indictment and the ingenuity
of crafty counsel, whilst others take advantage
of inducements held out by the law, or at least
by custom. and turn States evidence This
latter is a practice that should, in our opinion,
be deprecated instead of being encouraged,
and We believe our Courts would best subserve
the requirements OF Justice, by iniicting the
severest punishments that the statutes would
allow, upon such scoundrels as are ever willing
to screen themselves by duplicating their ac-
complices We had instance of this kind
in our own court last week. 4 store in this
county had been robbed. The stolen goods
were found in possession of an individual, who
was apprehended. Two other men were also
arrested. The man, in whose possession the
property was found, agreed to testify against
the others, and accordingly nolle pro,equi was
entered; but because he stood self-convicted
OF receiving stolen goods, and his evidence
lacking strong corroboration, the counsel for
The prisoners took advantage of his admis-
sions, raised doubts in the minds of the Jury,
ard succeeded in procuring a verdict of not
guilty; and thus all the parties escaped con-
yiction. We do not blame the counsel for the
defence for the course they prrsued-they on
ly did their duty to their clients; but we think
the Court should not have permitted mol. pro,.
TO have been entered, and the officers of the
law should have been better prepared to make
out case against the defendants.
This is but a single instance, which win suf-
ice to illustrate our idea and we hold that
until rigid and strict justice is meted out to
the iawless by our Courts, and better morals
are incuicated into the minds of our youth, as
well by practice as by precept, vice, immoral
ity AID crime of all kinds will continue 70 in
crease instead of decrease