Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-03-21
Reform in State Affairs.
Some Suggestions Worthy of Con
sideratiOn in regard to the Grim
inal Laws.
Columbia Sentinel.

Columbia Sentinel.
We notice in our exchange
: that the legislatures OF sewers
States have established the old tim
whipping post as a punishmer
for certain crimes. While we ar
not prepared to advocate thi
means OF correcting crime, yet W
do think that the enforcement oil
the criminal laws of the State ca
aud ought to be effected in NOR
prompt and expeditions name
) than the old jury system. Many
of the States South have recog.
nized this fact, and have amended
their constitutions and passed laws
by which crime could receive it
Just reward without going through
the delay and expense of a trial
by jury, which has been found to-
cumbersome under the present
status Of affairs, when crime is on
the increase, especially among
that class which are unable Il
give bond. For instance a mar
is sindicted by the grand jury ofMau
ry county, at its present session,
for some crime which is insigni
6cant in its nature, but which de
serves punishment; after the court
adjourns be is arrested, being un-
able to give bond, he is placed in
jail, there to be fed at the cost of
an oyerburdened people at the
rate of 40 cents day. There be
is kept until the next court con.
venes, say three months, during
that time the Stale of Tennessee
pays some $50 or $50 board for
him; when his case is called for
trial, the State or be may not be
ready and continuance is entered
aud be goes back to Jail, and re-
mains there for months longer.
When his case comes on for tIial,
a jury of twelve men, at a cost
OF 5 $50 each day, are empan-
neled to try the prioner; his case
occupies say u half day, here If
SO paid to the jury engaged in the
trial, and a like amount paid to
the other jury kept in waiting,
makes SIS paid by the county for
the trial of a prisoner, whose
crime probably does not amount
to more than the stealing of all
ear of corn, or a simple assault
and battery.
Thus it will be seen that large
amount OF money is expended and
tut little or no good is accom-
plished Thousands aud thon
sands of dollars are thus paid out
in frivolous prot ecutions. How
ever, the criminal laws, which are
the strong bulwarks of society.
must be enforced, but can it not
be done in cheaper and more
expeditions way? The constitu
ton of our State guarantees tt
every man a speedy trial, and
it he is guilty he should be pun.
ished, and if innocent he should
be allowed to 60 hence. This
cannot be accomplished under the
present system, and as we assert
d in the outset, other State.
south have adopted other means
OIe of the plans which has bcel'
in the State of Alabama,
AID which did much, b. til,
way, to relieve the people, snd
which we know, from personal
supervision, has worked well, i
his: In each comfy in the State.
the Probate Judge, whose duties
correspond with our county courl
clerk, has concurrent jurisdiction
with the Circuit Court over ali
nisdemeanor cases. The GRIND
Jury certify all indictments fol
misdemeanors found by them t.
this court, which is kept open
all the time,
When a prisoner is arrested,on a
capias issued on one of tLese in
dictments, lie is carried efore
this court and tried Immediately.
if found guilty he is sent to the
workhouse, there to work out Lis
or if innocent he is ac-
1nltled, and allowed to 20 b lck to
lis usual avocations of life, and j.
not kept in Jail to be ied ut tht
expense Of the State, b cause lie
happens to be unable to give bond;
At the same time the cost of the
Jury to the county is saved The
only extra expense attached to
his system, and which is nothing
IN comparison to that attached 20
he present system, is the pay Of
the Judge of this inferior court;
he should be allowed from three
10 four dollars in Zach case, to be
paid by the county. OF course
the fees paid to the prosecuting
officer, which would have TO be |
provided for in this court, would
be the same as those paid to the
General, and therefore !
would be noexpense The above
system is thoroughly practicable,
aud should be inauguraied. At
least one hundred thousand dol