Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-01-24
JUDGES CONVENTION.

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JUDGES CONVENTION.
A Series Of Resolutions Adopted Re.
commencing Reform in Crimi.
nal Prosecutions.
Law Breakers to be Made Self Sustain.
ing, and $50, 1000 Annually to
be Saved.
The Judges Convention met at 2:30
P. NJ. yesterday, the Hon. 10 G. Guild
presiding.
EXECUTION OF THE CRIMI-
NAL LAWS.
The committee appointed to suggest
some method of securing a more eff
cient execution of the criminal laws of
the State, and the securing of expenses
to the tax payers, reported as fol-
lows:
Your committee have, in the limited
time allowed them, carefully consider
ed the questions embodied in these
resolutions.
PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES.
/. Your committee are of opinion
that the number of peremptory chal-
lenges allowed defendants in capital
cases ought to be reduced to "a, and in
all other felonies to 10. That the State
shall have 10 challenges in capital
cases and in all other felonies to s.
QUALIFICATION OF JURORS.
2. That household or freeholdqual-
ification shall not be necessary for
either grand or petit jury if ether
wise competent.
NOT BE A CAUSE OF CHALLENGE.
3. That it shall not, in any criminal
case, be cause of challenge that the
juror has served as such within one
year before his presentation, nor such
person be excused upon his own appli-
cation for that reason, nor shall it be
considered cause of challenge that
such person has cause on the docket
for trial.
DISPERSION OF JURIES.
4. That on the trial of all felonies,
not declared capital by law, if the At
torney-General and defendant by writ
ten request, signed by the Attorney
General and by defendant in person,
or by Attorney General and the attor-
ney of defendant in the presence of
defendant, request the court to permit
the jury to disperse, then the court
may, in its discretion, permit the jury
to disperse.
sURETIES.
5. That when bond or recognizance
shall be taken by court, Sheriff, Dep
uty Sheriff or other officer authorized
by law to take such bond or recogni-
zance for the appearance of any party
charged with crime or misdemeanor,
such bond or recognizance shall bind
the defendant and sureties for the ap-
pearance of the party from time to
time until the case is finally disposed
of in the court before which such party
is required to appear by such bond or
recognizance, unless such surety sur
renders his principal as now required
by law, or he Is otherwise discharged
by order of the court.
FoRFEITUREs.
6. That in all cases where q forfeit
ure is taken upon bond or recogni-
zance, or submitted in favor of the
State according to law, the judgment
shall be final. The issuance of a sea
ta is dispensed with, but the defendant
or defendants in such judgment may
suspend the execution issued upon
such judgment, if he has any ground,
legal or equitable relief, to such judg-
ment.
JUDGMENTS, COSTS AND EXECUTIONS.
Z. That in all cases upon conviction
of defendant or defendants, where
the State may have the costs to pay,
that court shall render a judgment
against the State for its costs in the
first instance, without return of nuILd
bona and at the same time render a
Judgment for all costs against the de-
fendant or defendants, but execution
shall notissue on said judgment against
defendants, except upon the special
order of the court, and if any portion
or all of said costs shall be at any
time realized upon such execution from
the defendants, the State shall be re-
imbursed her costs thereon expend-
ed.
sHERIFFs' FEES.
8. That in all criminal cases the fees
of Sheriffs for the execution of
capias or subpoena in favor of the
State shall be double what is now al
lowed by law, when the process is exc
cuted, and no fees when he fails to exc
cute such process.
WHEN TRIED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE.
9. That in all cases where a party
may be tried before a Justice of the
Peace, charged with felony, and the
Justice shall acquit the party and
adjudge the costs against the State,
then the Justice shall make out and
certify the State costs directly to the
Comptroller for payment. The Compt-
roller will pay the same upon the GER
tifcate of the Judge and Attorney
General of the district as to, its cor
rectness.
NO EXEMPTION.
10. That in all cases, where fines, for
FIXTURES or costs shall be adjudged
against a debt in favor of the State or
any county, there shall be no property
exempt from execution, in the hands
any such defendant or his sureties
Except the homestead,) and as to
other property the same shall be liable
therefor, as for State and county
taxes.
OUGHT TO WORK OUT THE COSTS.
Upon the conviction of any defend
ant for felony, not capital, defendant
soconvicted ought to work out (at such
pay per day as the Legislature may
specify the costs occasloned. by the
prosecution.
BOARDING PRISONERS.
One of the chief items of expense
necessarily incurred in criminal prose-
cutions is the cost of boarding prison
ers in the county jails, confined for safe
keeping for felonies or under sentence
of Imprisonment for small offenses.
COUNTY woRK-HoUsEs.
We beg leave to call attention to the
ssscs that the laws now in force upon
the subject ec work houses afford a