The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-01-09
u.vE WE A POLICE COURT

Not long since, the city council proceed
ines reported that Tom Deckcr's fine was
RENTED and Tom released from Jail. We
doub, If il ever was legally done, for the
yeas and nays were Eoi taken, and unless we
are mistaken three aldermen have declared
that they did not vote for it. II tins Is 70,
his fine is not RENTED.
His case was most aggravated one. lie
was the leader Of gang OF rowdy boys who
were persistent in their efforts at disturbing
religious meetings. The congregation where
thew were most troublesome were really
afraid to complain of Tom for fear Of personal
violence or revenge ot some sort. AT last, |
he and his gang became undesirable and com
plant was made. At the examination he
used the mostproiane and insulting language,
and with horrid oaths threatened to cut one
witness heart out. The case was one which
justified the court in visiting upon the often
der the extreme penalty Of the law The
city council released him, IN the ground that
his mother was poor and they did not eren
consult the police magistrate as to the agra
eating circumstances Of the case, or require
bail for the future good tehdUior Of The pris-
oner This course in our opinion, was not
courteous to the court, nor just to the peo'
pie Besides, it was, in effect, Offering
premium for pauper- to commit crime.
But we should not have again alluded to
this case were it not for similar one which
appears in the proceedings Of the council OF
the 9th inst, as published in this paper
We refer to the case Of Terence O'Brien, who
committed the brutal assault upon Thomas
Butler.
On Christmas eve, Terence is said TO have
been talking with Mr.. Butler, near Butler a
house, in the most friendly manner, and at
he was about to leave he said to Butler
come Tom let's kiss and 90 home Butte
offered his hand and Terrence immediatel
struck him between the eyes with rock, an
ran away. Buffers nose was broken and hi
life endangered. Terence was fined S2j-
very small sum TOR such an aggravated as
sault He paid part Of the sum and gave sc
curity for the balance.
A petition is now brought to the counc
tor q reduction of the fine, and one of tn
aldermen told Us, after the meeting, that tn
fine was reduced 10 FIVE dollars. 1t was 5
believed by all, and so it read on the minute
made BY the clerk, until we called his atten
ton to the following little stumbling bloel
from the city charter, viz
ART. II. a. Neither the Mayor or City
Council shall remit any fine or penalty i'm
posed upon any person for violation Of any
law or ordinance of said city, or release from
Imprisonment unless two-thirds Of all the
Aldermen authorized to be elected, shall vote
for such release or remission nor shall any.
thing in this act pe So construed as to Dust
any court Of jurisdiction to abate and remove
nuisances within its Jurisdiction by indict.
ment or otherwise"
The vote to reduce the fine was as follows,
VI:
YeasAld. Chamberin, Dodge, Field, Fry.
singer and McDonald-5.
Nays-Ald. Clark Don and Langdell-3
Not two.thirds voting in favor of the mo,
tion, it was lost
We inquired the ground on which it was
claimed that the fine ought to be reduced
and was told that it was because Terence
was poor, Is II to be an established rule il
Rock Island that a poor man can commit al
sorts Of crimes and violate every law Of tn
city, simply because he is poor? Suppos
Terence mad mashed the handsome nose q
Aid. Field, would he vote to let him eff, be
cause he was poor? Suppose he had hit Aid
Dodge over the head with club and cracke
his scul, or broke some other alderman's lee
ought he to 60 free, because he is poor? No
mol This wont do. 1t is an insult to GU
courts, mockery Of justice, and an annihi
lation of all law for the protection of our CT,
liens.
The fine is not reduced-thanks to Aid
Clark, Don and Langdell, who stood up 70,
law, order, justice and the punishment Of
crime.