Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-06-26
CRIME IN OHIO, COSTS OF PRosECU-
TION. &c.

|
An interesting question not only for
the legal profession and legislators, but
for the people to consider, is the ratio of
crime in the State The penitentiary is
overhowing with conviets, ands the cost
of our criminal Jurisprudence hasebecome
a matter sof some Importance. We find
in the biennial report of the Attorney
General, made to the Governor in March
last, some facts which we lay before our
readers. He submits tabular statements
of the statistics of crime during the last
two years; but these tables are far from
being complete, owing to the failure of
the prosecuting attorneys of a number of
counties to make their reports. In 1858
twelve counties, viz: Butler, Cosheoton,
Crawford, Franklin, Fulton, Huron, Lu
cas-, Madison, Sandusky, Scioto, Shelby
and Vinton, failed to report. In 1859
the number which failed to report was
twenty two, viz: Ashtabula, Auglaize,
Butler. Coshocton, Crawford, Fayette,
Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Highland,
Hooking, Lawrence, Logan, Lucas, Mad
ison, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, San
dusk ~, Scioto, Trumbull, and Williams.
This failure of the law officers to report
the crimes prosecuted in the several
counties, is extremely reprehensible, and
ought to be condemned. The act of May
1, 1852, makes it the duty of each pros
ecuting attorney, between the 10th and
Goth days of December, in every year, to
report to the attorney general particu-
lar statistical account of all crimes pros
ecuted by Indictment in his county du-
ring the year next proceeding, which ac-
count shall specify the number OF per-
sons prosecuted, the crime or crimes for
which each person was prosecuted, the
result of each prosecution, and the pun
ishment awarded thereon, and also the
amount of costs in each case, NC. He
is also required to report which of the
crimes SO prosecuted we're, in his opin-
ion, committed under the influence OF
ardent spirits. This act seems to be
viewed by some Of the prosecuting at
torneys as a dead letter, and we cannot
! but regard their remissness as uni ustih
able They ought to be the last persons
in the State to disregard the plain letter
of the law.
The partial tables furnished to the At
torney General show that in 1853 the
costs assessed in 76 counties was
S54, 4,572.17; costs collected S9,060.72;
costs paid by the State $12, ,245. ga; costs
paid by the counties $21 1854 fines
: assessed S9,63665; fines collected ST.
1852.
In 1859, the total costs assessed in &C
COMMITTEES was S59, ,9S1 90; costs collected
So, ,O67O5; costs paid by the State
7,07921; costs paid by the counties
$50, ,341. 3d.; fines assessed 4,056.O5;
5 fines collectable, S4,699O9.
In 1853, the number of indictments
found within the year in Is counties
, was 2,596; number of convictions 9o2;
| crimes supposed to be committed under
r the influence of liquor BIG. There was
one conviction for the crime of murder
, in the first degree, four for murder in
the second degree, eighteen for man
slaughter, twelve for assaults with in
, tent to murder, and twelve for shooting,
l stabbing, &C., with intent to kill. Thirty
, six of these crimes against life were com
mitted under the influence of liquor
} Of the crimes not against life, 8 were for
; arson, 55 for burglary, 60 for grand
t larceny, 81 for violation of the gam
: bling law, "a for horse stealing, for
5 forgery, 5 for counterfeiting, 266 for as
sault and battery, 131 for petit larceny,
239 for violations Of the liquor laws, Il
for rape, and 5 for robbery.
, In 1859 the number Of indictments
t found in &C counties, within the year,
| was 2,427; number of ofconvictions, ,21O;
crimes supposed to be committed under
: the influence of liquor, 25O There was
= one conviction for murder in the first
degree; 9 for murder in the second de-
, gree; 13 for manslaughter; 8 for assault
: with intent to murder; 4 for shooting,
/, stabbing, &C., with intent to kill. Ut
/ these crimes against life, 23 were COM
r mitted under the influence of intoxicating
0 iouor. Of the convictions for crimes
: not against life, 369 were for violations
/ of the liquor law; 24O for assault and
0 battery; 125 for petit larceny; So for
/ grand larceny, 127 for burglary; 22 for
e horse stealing; 2 for counterfeiting, %
r for having, passing, or selling counter
felt money; s for robbery; for rape;
10 for forgery; 13 for arson; 2 for big,
amy; for perjury; So for violation OF
gaming law; Is for malicious woundlng
&c.
OF the punishments, were sent tc
f the Penitentiary for life in 1858, and S
. in 1859; 5 We're sent for 10 years and
q over in 1853, and IA in 1859; 10 were
J sent for under ten years in 1888, and
tn Z
= ail in 1888 and 329 in 1859.
] These facts, partial as they are, afford
food for reflection. We hope hereafter
o that full reports from all the counties
will be furnished, so that not only the
q General Assembl y may have the infor
+ nation necessary for judicious action II
the premises, but that the people may
: know the proportion of crime in Ohio
= as compared with other States.-Journat
u influence of nn Ohio journal in Kansas
: 1.-The Advantage of Having Intelli'
: gent Readers.
GA. D. R." writes from LeavenWorth
J, Kansas, to the Boston Journal:
: A Republican Postmaster in this vi
|, cinity recently received letter from the
IS publishers of the Ohio Statesman
), staunch Democratic organ-requestine
C the names of few leading and infuen
y tial Democrats within the range of hi
n Office, In reply, he sent the names O
l. three Missourians, who can neither reae
y nor write a single word. The return
d mail brought them each a confidential
y Democratic circular, containing sugges
IS ton as to the best method of defeating