Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-06
MORNING LEADER.
WEDNESDAY sIORNING, JUNE ., 1880.
ns- Fer Telegraphic, Market and Marine
News see Fourth PaEe.
Crime ia Ohio, Costs Of Prosooution, SO.


Crime In OhiO, Costs Of Prosecution, SC.
The State Journal well says, that an inter
esting question not only for the legal profess
sion aud Legislators, but for the people to
consider, is the ratio Of crime in the State.
The penitentiary is overfowing with con-
victs, and the cost Of our criminal jurispru-
dence has become matter Of some impor-
lance. 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 Gar from being
complete, owing 10 the failure Of the prose-
cutting attorneys Of number of counties to
make their reports. In 1853 twelve counties,
viz; Butler, Coshocton, Crawford, Franklin,
Fulton, Huron, Lucas, Madison, Sandusky
Seioto, Shelby and Vinton, failed 10 report
In 1859 the number which failed 10 report
was twenty-five, viz Ashtabula, Auglaize,
Butler, Coshocton, Crawford, Fayette, Frank
lin, Fulton, Greene, Highland, Hooking,
Lawrence, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Mercer,
Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Sci0to Trum-
bull, and Williams. This failure Of the law
officers 10 report the crimes prosecuted in the
several counties is extremely reprehensible,
and ought 10 be condemned. The act Of
May l, 1852, makes it the duty of each pros
ecuting attorney, between the 10th and goth
days Of December, in every year, 10 report
TO the Attorney General particular statisti
cal account Of all crimes prosecuted by in
dictment in his county during the year next
preceding, which account shall specify the
rararn har NJ r,araoru r,r,raarfnI rarir1,a
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, &c. He is also
required to report which of the crimes so
prosecuted were, in his opinion, committed
under the influence of ardent spirits. This
act seems to be viewed by some of the pros
ecuting attorneys as a dead letter, and we
cannot but regard their remissness as unjus-
ti6able. They ought to be the last persons
IN the State TO disregard the plain letter of
the law.
The partial tables furnished to the Attor-
ney General show that in 1858, the costs as
sessed in 76 counties was So, ,572l7; costs
collected s., O6O. y costs paid by the State
SO, 245.64i costs paid by the counties, S2l,-
ISL GA; fines assessed $9,636.65; fines col
lected 81, 1852.
In 1859, the total costs assessed in 76 cOm-
ties was $50 98l.9O; costs collected $5,O67.-
05; costs paid by the State Sl7, ,O79.2l costs
paid by the counties $50, 34l.35; fines as
sessed l4,s56.O5; fines collectable S4,699.-
Os.
In 1859, the number of indictments found
within the year in 76 counties was 2,5S5;
number of convictions 982; crimes supposed
to be committed under the influence Of liquor
BIG. There was no conviction for crime of
murder in the first degree, eighteen for man
twelve for assaults with intent to
murder, and twelve for shooting, stabbing,
&c, with intent to kill Thirty-six of these
crimes against life were committed under the
influence Of liquor. Of the crimes not against
life, 8 were for arson, 55 for burglary, 60 for
grand larceny, 81 for violation of the gamb-
ling law, "a for horse stealing, for forgery,
for cOunterfeiting, 266 for assault and bat
terry, l3l for petit larceny, 259 for violations
Of the liquor law, II for rape, and 5 for rob
berry.
In 1853, the number of indictments found
in &c counties, within the year, was 2,427;
number Of convictions, ], l,2IO; crimes supposed
10 be committed under the influence of liquor,
-eN- AAACAG WaAo ~ NuLAh AIAlOn lUl L4lAuCA III
the first degree, for murder in the second
degree, l3 for manslaughter, 8 for assault with
intent to murder, for shooting, stabbing, &c,
with intent to kill. OF these crimes against
life, % were committed under the influence of
liquor. OF the convictions for
crimes not against life, 369 were for violations
Of the liquor law, 24O for assault and battery,
l25 for petit larceny, So for grand larceny;
l27 for burglary; % for horse stealing; for
% for having, passing or sell /
ing counterfeit money; 8 for robbery; for
rape; 10 for forgery; l3 for arson; for
bigamy; for perjury; 5S for violation of
gaming law and 10 for malicious wound
ing, &c.
Of the punishments, were sent to the
Penitentiary for life in 1853, and in 1859;
5 were sent for 10 years and over in 1858, and
IA in 1853; 10 were sent for under 10 years
in 1858, and 269 in 1859; 369 were sent to
County Zail in 1853, and 229 in 1859,
These facts, partial as they are, afford food
for reflection. We hope hereafter that full re-
ports from all the counties will be furnished
80 that not only the General Assembly may
have the information necessary for judicions
action in the premises, but that the people
may know the proportion of crime in Ohio as
with other States.