Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-12-27

Murder, said the school girl in her
composition. " is a very bad habit" 1t
seems to be becoming also very prevalent
habit in New York. Pour weeks ago,
saws the Time, Of that city, there We're
twenty-five murderers in the Tombs. The
list is much longer now. and IS still steadily
increasing Not one in twenty of these men
will meet with anypunishment beyond few
months detention in prison. Either jury
men will acquit them, or judges will lend
their aid to help them to escape by means of
pettifogging trickery The rufhan knows
that he can kill with impunity. There Is
practically no law against murder in this
city. The statute has been made a dead
letter by idiots in the jury-box and reckless
judges on the bench"
This feeling of the insecurity of life and
Of the nullity of the statutes which else
where are safeguard against murder, in
the great metropolis, Is not confined 10 the
Times. 1t finds frequent expression in the
e New York press generally. Two of the
causes Of this condition Of things are stated
above, viz idiotic juries and reckless
judge. 20 which may be added, a state of
morals among the New York bar, and Of
sentiment in that community, which per
mits adroit and able lawyers to devote their
talents TO setting notorious murderers loose
to repeat their crime whenever they choose.
The chief trouble, however, Is PROBABLY
with the judges. We infer this from an in
teresting account given US the other day,
by a legal friend just returned from abroad,
of the administration Of justice in
the criminal courts of London. In
that great city each inhahitant and
each visitor feels sense Of security IN the
protection Of the law, to which the New
Workers have long been strangers. Though
it is much larger city, and one which
sends to New York large share Of the most
dangerous elements Of the population Of
the latter city, there is safety for the citi-
zeas because crime is sure to receive its
penalty. Such a murder as that of Fisk by
Stokes, Occurring in London, would long
ago have been disposed Of by the prompt
trial and conviction and execution Of the
assassin So the result Of sucn case as
this last New York horror, the Simmons
Duryea murder, would be as certain, in
London, as anything in the future can be.
The courts woull have It speedily brought
to trial The Judge, while giving per
iectly fair trial to the respondent, would
sternly exclude the deluge of immaterial
testimony with which Mr. John Graham or
Mr. Howe or whoever is Simnons' lawyer.
will be allowed to becloud the case and
puzzle the jury, when it comes to trial in
New York He would as firmly refuse 10
permit the dilatory motions and various
delays, 80 common in criminal practice ON
this side the water. which will undoubtedly
preserve Mr.. Simmons life for years to
come. The facts Of the case would be fairly
and promptly given to the jury. The jury
would as promptly do their duty, and the
majesty of the law would be INDICATED by
the hanging Of the murderer, within such
short period as Is necessary for due care and
delberation in a case Of life and death.
1t seems pity that the New York judge
could not 60 to school in London. for
short time.