, 1869-09-20
THE NEW LAW.
CT3mtnn1e Testify Ing In Their Own
lIehnif-Thc NEW La " nnd How II

Works.
fFc.n the S<1r Fork Tfm<a, k<pt H.
The lhW pas,ed ut The lsst se..ioa of the Le4s.
tcatifJ Ia Their own oenaif has now been Ia oper.
ailun for tour months. mud Its inertia sn1 dement's
arc exemr1ued IN the practical workings Of the
exception OF Connecticut and California, New
York Is the nest stAte that has introduced
this limo, alton upon The ong-est4hl!hel
far - this city IA correrneti. the new law meets
with she 0nantmooh apprurai Of the District At
toEne5 and q The Judges tnEaec'i u the adutns-
An excellent law for the innocent tnau and very
bad one Tor the guilty, rhch Il cquisa'ent to say.
ing that It works n thc Interest q the public and
mary oI{ects Of Ill AWE The records ot
the Court Of Sessions show Tint for the
last four mouths eight OUT Of ten persons
new taw and tak~n The wsuess' stand IN
their oxn behalf, and Ia'lEe Gars!n anil bis 4 T.
SIT Sst9ns ~. nuschlnss both ~ ~. there has
has euccetsied In inducing = Jury to aequt him on
am OWE testimony, While tnere have been tive or
tarse na Gases Of Psiscns p.esumaol, innocent who
clear up doubtful pointa OF evidence ~ 10 secure
their aeqaittal when, In the shaence Of their tesu-
@ony .ney Snf sns hare osep II 20
c&se b. taklnE the stAnd, hnt, On the contrary.
tier almost Invariably in}ure It. The moment
Ike other Witnesses, % the cross-eIafa,ast1on q
the District Attorney, which mAy extend to their
whole past career. and u guFe TO hiring out facts
why The guilty should avail themselves OF the laT
and take the staod. The answer to tnis question
Involves The only serious objection TO the Law. Ths
sumption Of thelf Ruils u inerltzhe IN tho minds
Of The tuEy: for 1lthough the law expressly de-
c!azes tast the failure on he part q the Prisoner
pointeo5 pol laP sa,ea b. Esgor asli 4 discussing IL
IT, tse n9,1 G Ley ~ Sa e
JuIfes vii draw an inference uufayotahle to the
mAn who refuses TO take the stand and declare his
clatrs iaey saan nor. 10 AVOID tnts tuferenee
counsel engaged In defending criminals arc CON-
PEELED pit their c1Ien.s on the ttAnd eFen II the
nony. Thus 1t happens thas nearly all peEsons
charged with crime 1tnce the passs9e Of the lay
ineEselves q ~ p.ts1lese and If 4 be tue,
cutting criminals In the Court Of Sessions
declare, that niue out Of ten prisoners put on
ssts n 'nat eoatt are gn!is5, shsn j. follow. taas
menee ainount Of false s*ea11nE THIS Is the
asrong point aS1tnN the law. and one which c.1n.
posed 70 II, male e1eas handle Of They ~
ih2i Il oftea h&ppenS that thef clients make such
bunRnns wost IN telling ther sterJ, o. protesting
eeeoz = pa1sns 70 ii, aud hen vaen saey cone "a
be sentenced The CourI does not scTap3e to Etve
them the extreme penalty Of toe ~, aud Ktse -
Tue cz1me with whkh theyl were charged
that Of perjury. Thus the guilty man = rlAcesl
s i e TO- on :- Il aoe sss Rs, ss
Court gives him e1t7 punishment for false
swearing. Thib- they protest, Il not q "fatr aud
impartial trial." such - the Constitution And the
American. Eagle guarantees they shall haEe.
Bus - this apparent intnstiee operaEe4 only
AcalnFs the guilty, the public are supposed 70 Be
anle 70 stand II, il the criminals cannot Whether
that be, On the vhole, 4 good !Aw which promotes
the crime Of perjury. as this law certainly docs
{aloelt :tA working src only UnfAtorabe TO Cr1mH
pa1s,, Is question for the professors Of moral
tctelef. Ind nos l&HYef1. 10 detefutne.