Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-14
COSTS IN CRIMINAL CASES.



Isl; Louis Times Journal
Mr. a. A Lesueur, editor of the Lex
ingt"n Iutc!.igrncer. and representative
elect from lainy.tlc county. Lt- been in
vestgating the matter ut cost uccrulng
IN the prosecution OF criminals IN this
state with Il view, II" doubt Ia setting
on foot some I.t,pnb.v needed ret"rm-
bv the incoming general assembly. From
his examinations pI the oifirIa, reSort-
at jefferson City, it appears thai tn"
state has actually pad pUt n> costs II
crmiua. eases, lucu'iIng expenditures
on and nIt!nt"uanc" al the DeHlte;tiirN,
salaries OF its utiiccr-, apprehension u
iugItives, ana ether iuct'i"utii-. IN th'
nine Years from 1869 'o l>1o Inclusive.
no less sum thtn - yJ4.44G II. AN ay
rrag. Of 1855 al - Iuthis, Mr. l.
would adj al! d"uhlir-> property. thu
amount paid To judges, clrruii attorneys.
and other actual expenditures N the pros
ecutIun OF criminal c,t-r>. the estimated |
sum o! S2Do,vyD annually hc-c ""
items added give the cost to the state lol |
prosecutions al crimIanis AN rnuti sum
exceeding SOS. 900. tu say uutlsIng oI
ecutiuns tor misdemeau0rs not punish
able by imprisonment in the p"utcntlary.
The enormous amount ol these figures.
co. lated from the cl!ituru. column, Ut the
Intelligeuccr, readily suggest, that there
is striking necessity tor some rctorma.
ton in the matter Of costs incurred IN
criminal prosecutions To this end We
suggest that a considerable saving might
t,I a of Al o.
uluting the fees ot the various officers
cunuruted with these prosecutions. II
Will b.. reco.Iected, duuJ!. .cs>N, that ii
, the revising session ul the general as
. scmbly Ui !S6:,-G, the lee, ui ~! our oil
t ticia.s, and the sa.uric, ol some, Were
considerably augmented. The reason
/ gwen in Justification OF this augmeata-
= ion was that a. the officers were h"in z
. paid in government currency, then very
r much below par. and the cost OF a.. the
c necessary expenditures were correspond
e iugly enhanced in price, it was but Jus,
: the pay OF the peoples servant, should
: be Increased in au e4u:t! alto. linz
V reason. however, has no .0uger any
l. foundation to rest upon. aud Il won.a
3 seem that Il reform NIGH, wei uc made
d in the matter OF compensation 10 the Of
pf ticias now and hereafter to he engage
s in the prosecution Of the states law
h breakers. e>pcci lily as the Legislature
Fl about to meet vii. have the general re
is vision ol the statutes as 4 part oi lis 'u
IN ties. In iact,inis matter was reI"tle"
N oE eA-h"No. N"o''''H am ''''''
ne lhelt sc'et''I ih'>>aef7 A' '"e sc'>lo
ne oi the legislature "s 4o'"' III" ''e"'''''o
lr anu !e''c'i''i "' '"'>S !''> VI, 'P'Gu W.
Is sidcrap!s oI me attention oi TIE 'i"">'
81 Out me p''L "ha''> '"'''' ~
ed tha. b"d! ~ L >lna'. 'oIe. az t1t '.!'
ed "L the session A-tin' III Ion'' ai'o''i'
NJ ch"!i WIS "'a''e Il! 'ho >t'ne "'L -, n''i"''
ne the tc'''''' '''''-'' VI Wv ~
wv MS lhtu2u. H. ""t "''I''"- ""N
~ ~ '"S .1it,,,.r'' :,
'cs r. - 49, -
'ee ,;,'-, J."
''H '''N'''''' ., -,
va .. 49,,
''''' '.4' '''" - !" o..
~ ~ ,
e''' VI q '''' .,.,',>
-; lhc SUI SUI S'"'' !, - Wv Wv
,-,. '"'' '..' ..,it@
49,, y. - ''' ;,Ia,
rho N,''17 80, ,,.;,.,,-.,,,.. -
.,, 's ,,.
.,r. ,,.,,,,i,','. ,,,,,'.
ard ,'D'I t4'.i.,, ~
,,,,, ',"'. '.7' y, ~ -;
, ~, 'ie Ia" VI ''io 7'''e' % Ca - 81
,n,.
.t,,, But whether ms ne ace mP.Ish"n
-, net 1T l. very pam th-t 4 not incua>ii
put r.I,,c,i,,,i in :I,. ,..,s. -, r,,n,in.. !,
pout ,.l;n,r.,.,r IN. .a..pr.I nv = ri,,,J
-, mlni>tratiun OF the laws aS they n
I,,,, stand. The editor ~ ihr lnt"tii i-"hcer 7
tinvntiv Suggests tnat ''lh1>t who
L.. ci"tned III the einln" "t Judges are
pul-iJ.c IN no small degree tor The pi
eut' drain upon the state : treasury in
" matter ui costs IN criminal 'a>c-. Il c
~ not he doubted that thrr" i To-" III
e'' layltv in enforcing the rules in mauy
heh our court, in the matter Of granting cll
u i'I oI ges OF venue to parties nrraigned
nrrr crime. oitcntlmes on frivolous prrte
naIs ana sometimes pn>sip'S without any
ear .i''e'' /, - ii,.,,';
...'.,' in granting contmuances to the arral
49,, as well as To the representa- YES "i
~. state in these trials. Judges should
to it.On all occasions that prosecuting
torncsy and those charged with Grim
o ;,'. well. should be rigldly held TO DO
. pared for trial At the proper term. /
~, ure in this reSpec; has too often been
,,t' cause OF a Very large increase in
way. '. ~ costs in almost numheresS eases. ii
.,,.i.', again. there has been. in The pastat It
..ri,s all almost. |! not quite, crlmlna. me-
Tt'n,, ot Judges in the matter "f certilln:
,,';,h the correctness OF bills of costs rond
iarr by he clerks OF their courts In
IInS. Judge Lucas. OF the haf county cir
was :mprached Tor this neglect
f,r though his conviction t;I ed by the
>. y, ~ ~ OF few votes in the senate. his iria
yelupcd a most astounding abuse III
II ~ ou' respect, while the trial it>cit cost
w ha state no less Il sum than 2,o3i
nv ;I then. doubtless. there has been les
-, dcreliction on the part OF judges IL
.,. ".v' respect. but it is believed that by
too much inattcntion to this matt
still prevalent.
,,,';5s 49,. DARING the legislative session of
come curious practices on the pa
nr ho shcri,rs' charges Tor conveying con
~, 10 to III. renitentiarv from their resp.
cnun,ies were developed. Although
=, oo, inaIIy complying with the provisio
;t, the law some OF these Officials mar
h''H" ,h,rrnc r,nr