The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-04-10
dnfaIfnALLAR REFORM:

gestfons worthy of consideration In re-
gard to the criminal laws, whereby they
could be enforced more expeditiously
and economically than by going through
the delay, and expense Of atrial by jury
which has been found to be cumber-
some under the present status OF affairs
when crime is on the increase, especial
" with that class which are unable to
give bond To illustrate; aman is in
6licted by the grand jury for some crime
which is insignificant in its nature, but
which. deserves punishment; after the
court adjourns he is arrested, being un-
able to give bend, he is placed in Jail,
there to be fed atthe cost of an over
burdened people at the rate of 40 cents
a day. There he is. kept until the next
court convenes, say three months, dur
ing that time the State of Tennessee
pays some $50 or $50 bnard for, him;
when the case is called for trial, the
State or he may not be ready and a con-
tinuance is entered and he goes back to
Jail, and remains there for months long
er. When his case comes on for trial,
a jury of twelve men, at a cost of 81 90
each day, are empanneled to try the
prisoner: his case occupies say half a
day, here is 80 paid to the jury engaged
in the trial, and like amount paid to
the other jury kept in waiting, makes
S1S paid by the county for the trial OF a
prisoner, whose crime probably does not
amount to more than the stealing of an
ear of corn, or simple assault and bat
terry. 5s1 SIS - stes4 5Ii
Thu It will be seen that a largeamount
of money is expended and but little OF
no good is accomplished. Thousands
and thousands of dollars are thus paid
out in frivolous prosecutions. How
ever, the criminal laws, which are the
strong bulwarlxs of society, must be en-
forced, but can it not be done in a
cheaper and more expeditions ways
The constitution of our State guarantees
to every man speedy trial, and If he is
guilty he should be punished, and if in
nocent he should be allowed to go hence.
This cannot be accomplished under the
present system, and as we asserted in
the outset, other States south have
adopted other means. One of the plans
which has been adopted in the State OF
Alabama, and which did much, by the
way, to relieves the people, and which
! we, know, from personal supervision.
has worked well, is this: In each coun-
| ty In the State, the Probate Judge,
Whose duties correspond with our coun-
ty court clerk, has concurrent jurisdic
ton with the Circuit Court over all mis-
demeanor cases The Grand Jury certi
fy all indictments for misdemeanors
found by them to this court, which IL
kept open all the time.
When a prisoner is arrested, on 8
capias issued on one of these findict
ments, he is carried before this court
and tried Immediately, if found guilty
he is sent to the work-house, there t.
work out his sentence, or if innocent he
is acquitted, and allowed to go back tC
his usual av6eations of life, and notkept
! in Jail to be fed at the expense of the
State, because lac happens to be unable
to give bond; at the, same time the cos
of the jury to the county is saved, The
only extra expense attached to this sys
TEN, and which is nothing in compari
son to that attached to the present sys
tenn, is the pay of the Judge of this in
ferior court; he should be allowed from
three to four dollars in each case, to. bC
| paid by the county. OF course the fee.
paid to the prosecuting officer, which
would have to he provided for in thi:
court, would sc the same as those paid
the Attorney General, and therefore
would be no, expense. The above sys
tenn is thoroughly practicable, and
should be inaugurated. At least enc
hundred thousand dollars could be saw
ed to the State each year, which is nj
insignificant sum !, for this alnoHnt'vSoulC
go far toward paying the interest on oaI
Stare debt, and we might yet be saved
from the everlasting shame of repudia
! ton