The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-19
CRIMINAL la WYERS A CURSE.

WE esteem any community which contains a
number of exceedingly able criminal lawyers to
be singularly unfortunate We do not mean tOsay
that any lawyer who practises in the Quarter
Sessions is per Sc public nuisance or a pub
lie injury, but if there is known to exist law
yer who is noted either for his legal acuteness or
sympathetic eloquence, and by these qualities to
be able to get an accused man declared innocent,
that fact is serious I'M ury to the safety of the
community. 1t requires but a moments rcfec-
ton to see that this view of the case is correct.
man is hesitating before he commits some great
crime, some murder, for instance, and is weighing
the consequences which will follow He looks
first and foremost at the risk of punishment 1t
is notorious that the moral power the conscience
is not the principal check put on crime. 1t is
the certainty of the physical results which will
follow, and if they can be escaped, there are
thousands of men who would willingly risk the
tortures of an outraged conscience. The
would-be murderer is weighing the chances, and
sees prominant criminal lawyer, one who is
noted for his success. He makes a calculation.
II will get by this murder 900. / can pay
Mr.. -- $4,000, and he will get me Off" The
result is that all hesitation yanishes the public
are shocked by the record of another dreadful
crime, and Mr.. eXcrts his eloquence
escapes. By such transaction as this
the greatest public injury is done. The case of
this one man freed through the ability of coun-
sci stimulates dozen Others to like deeds, and
the peace of society is endangered. 1t is for
this reason that we esteem the existence of
pre-eminently great criminal lawyer a public
calamity. In fact, the talents of such MEM
ber of the bar tend to elevate crime. The day
of trial is delayed, and opportunities afforded
for the successful concoction of a false theory
of innocence. This is all wrong. Crime should
meet with prompt punishment.
Public sentiment, through habit, has given to
| counsel delay of month or two as part of
the rights of the criminal A prompt trial after
! an arrest is almost unheard of. Even in the late
case of the Hill murder, four months and half
elapsed between the deed and the eXpiation
They manage things better in France. There
murder is followed by trial in the same week.
and if the accused be proved guilty, another
week sees him in eternity. The knowledge of
such speedy fate tends nightly to check
crime.
Then too, the trials of criminal cases here are
unnecessarily prolonged. To have the court
listen for an unlimited time to counsel is an error
Let the time be limited, and let the defense and
the prosecution each know that in one hour
tnes must say all tnat they nave TO say. For
ten days to be consumed is certainly out of all
proportion, and evidences fecundity of words
which argues i'll for the ideas. In fact, num-
Der Oh important changes must be made in order
to make our system of criminal Justice properly
efficient. There is too much latitude oiven tn
crime, too much sympathy shown, too much
interference attempted Speed and certainty of
punishment should follow the commission of a
murder, and the knowledge of these two quail
ties Will diminish the list of cases in the criminal
| calendar.