New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-29
PUBLIC DEMAND FOR THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THE LAWS.

PUBLIC DEMAND FOR THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THE LAWS.
The rapid accumulation of prisoners in the
Tombs who walt for opportunity TO prove their in
to know what their fate ia to be- has called
all sides inquiry into the cause OF this cruel
and unjust delay OF the lawcruel TO the cupr unjust
to the public, which is entitled to protection. Nobody
pretends to deny that lawless encouraged In
the execution Of revengeful deeds by the axty OF the
prosecution which awaits them The ct that the crime
OF murder is seldom punished the law requires is con-
sidered by many TO be the immediate cause for the nu
homcides that have been committed during the
present year.
The law itself relating to the crime Of murder is su
GENTLY explicit that the Of alarmed people against
the wording OF which permits this mmu
nifty from prosecution is not well grounded Thelaw must
not be held responsible, but the in which crm
mails OF this class prosecuted OF counsel en-
gagged in the defense OF murderers invariably seek to
delay in the proceedings, knowing by long ex-
peence that that is the best that can be pursued
result the record Of the City Prison shows that men
guilty OF henous crimes have lain month after month in
the prison until their oense has been almost forgotten
by the public under the pressure OF new and ex-
citing caames. When at last they put Trial i'm
porant witnesses found TO be absent while those who
do appear must OF necessity have forgotten the appa-
renty minor details which the history OF criminal trials
prove to have frequently formed The missing links neces-
sary determine conviction. Then again 1t must be re-
membered that not only witnesses become tired Of
waiting, but they may also have been bribed by the
friends of the accused to leave the city, universal
cry Of alarm and threatening demand for speedier
punishment have arisen. All the newspapers in the
city have condemned severely the looseness OF q
system which only encourages eIjme and permits
if6 and limb to 20 in Jeopardy every day be-
cause Of the delay and failure OF justice There is no
stronger evidence Of this msrust in the people OF the
present administration OF justice than the display OF
lynchng temper manifested upon the occasion OF the
ONeil murder-a fact which brings the people OF TINS
city face to face with very primitive and very dis
agreeable question Even the prisoners in the Tombs,
the murderers especially recognize this growing spirit
OF indignation and the dmlnution OF their own chances
thereby. One fact, not altogether without humor Nus
trates this impression OF the prisoners TnlI, 80 news.
"Murderer's Row" in the Tombs is irtson where the
paper readers as the division OF the lily be understood
murderers are confined AS can read, feeling among
there is the same Of sympathests between ndi-
viduals whose lives are tmpered When scannell
brought to the prison, the news OF his unusually
desperate crime reached the Of the murderers con-
dued there they all refused to hold any converse with
him. but mathematical him for increasing their own
peril sowhen King brought in, the same spirit was
manifested scanne himself in favor with the rest
Joining in the general!condemnation.
The people generally unite in demanding that the muir
der calendar must be cleared and claim that all that Is
needed to effect this is prompt attention to duty by the
and the courts and juries Upon the
question Of who must shoulder the responsibility OF this
delay there appear to be many conflicting opinions ana
several solutions Of the problem how to overcome TINS
difficulty The DstrictAttorneys Office Ia prst looked
TO- az being the great engine upon which depends the
working Of the ponderous machinery OF the criminal
courts and business generally Charges are readily
made against the DstctAtorney for his alleged la1ty
in tho bringing forward of criminals. Hints are
broadly spoken of the causes which have led TO the
pigeon-holing OF indictments, and the inducements
which lead to retention Of the important papers, and
the approaching change in the DistrictAtbrney'S
office is looked upon-unpopular, politically, as 1t s-as
promising some relief.