New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-27
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"ne0 U11meS no committed innocent
persons safer the greatest punishment.
The liquor dealer deals out poison for q
lifetime and grows fat On the pittanoea
that ahon1, feed thu poer... 0anhli.e
house kelpess are pappsrea and pre-
teStsd <ha1e tAeiivietims are laughed at.
threatened ana run away. Bank officers
embezzle finds md travel ID Europe.
while depositors get along as best they
can after being robbed Of their hard earn
ings. Men make wars for an idea, or for
political policy. Some Of them arc killed,
but as all must die sooner or later, death
is no punishment Many of them are
promoted, gain fame. and live on the
capital Of one-leRged reputation. The
real sufferers from war are not the NAL
contents who bring it on, but the
aged and inirm whose props in life
are. broken. The victims are the
widows up and down the land,
the long rows Of orphans who are robbed
of. what can never be restofed to them,
and for whom good people are begging
every day. A murder is committed, and
home has been made desolate for all
time, and there the punishment is. Pub
lie opinion points unsrringly to the Grim
inal; but public opinion is not allowed on
q jury, and men who understand the case
would be rejected from sitting in judy
nent. Information gathered from news
papers, or general intelligence on current
events, incapacitates man from consider
ing crime, law and evidence. It is q ter
rible thing to jeopardize a mans life BY |
trial; almost as bad as the killing which |
causes the trial. The chances of MUIR
aerers escape arc many, He may escape
suspicion, arrest, trial. conviction, SEN
ten6e or imprisonment. Hanging is out
# the question.
Now. the punishments imposed on the
innocent for wicked deeds done by the
wicked, act as a premium for crime.
Jases have been before the courts of such
'eculiar and strange importance that I'm
'risonment would follow conviction of
defendants, during the trial of which the
ury would be locked up and the defend
nts allowed full liberty. The defendant
ould skip out of the country any night
nd avoid all Inconvenience; the jnryman
! not allowed TO go to his honest home
" q minute, read o letter or speak to
lend. The law foaesees that . juryman
light be tempered with, corrupted; it in
ct assumes that all mem accepted as jur-
IS are sooundrsls, While giving the benefit
doubt to prisoners, and the Jurors are
1T in close confinement to prevent them
ON committing the criminal act Of &C.
'pting brides. The court must follow
g law, but in cases Of doubt jurymen
lould have the benefit of the doubt, be i.
ms idered honest jurymen while on trial,
until they are convicted Of misdemean-
8, and if consistent with the ends of
stice, the jury on trial should :,
given as much liberty as the prisoner.
illnesses, in cases where juries are being !.
led by defendants in criminal suits, have !.
ore liberties. They are allowed to go
me every day when court adjourns.
,eir diversion while leaving their bust.
IS is to hang about the courtroom day
'er day, among the noble throng of F
sdy loafers who compose the audience p
rtion Of . court, and to hear the law
rs brow bast and badger the witnesses :
trial, waiting fora chance to testify.
hen crime is committed, then, the in p
'ence is that twelve innocent men will q
locked up until the defendant is acquit- G
], and that as many men as know any
Dg about the case will be admitted to
i as witnesses. Let defendants enjoy
as much As possible. Let no
locent man escape. Lock up the jury
? way. When evil is done, those who
no evil suffer most. tn