The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-17
HOW 4" ::
AUSTIN, October IA, 1873.

Editors Democratic Statesman:
The " Carnival of Crime" about
which so much has been said seems tc
be at this time-in our State-closely
competing with the "Scourge"-which
we have thus far escaped-but which
is disrupting and destroying moral, So
cial and physical life within the con-
fines of our sister Southern States.
And, like that "Scourge," it seems as
though almost impossible to stay its
death dealing course when once it be-
comes developed in the body polite.
If newspaper reports be correct
there is systematic effort being made
by medical scientists to discover the
origin and cause of the one with a
view to Its prevention. Would it not
be well at this time for similar effort
to be made by our political scientists
of the Other?
If the following suggestions, thrown
out IN the interest of society and good
government, could impress upon those
who are at this time so ambitious to
become our lawmakers the necessity of
some such action by our next Legisla-
ture, certainly, an important step will
have been taken toward the desired
end. The maxim that can ounce of
prevention is worth pound of cure" Is
certainly applicable to this case. And
there can be no surer preventive of
crime than the knowledge that punish
ment will follow swift and sure, which
Is not by any means the case now, as,
unfortunately, we all know. Then let
our law-abiding people insist that the
following changes be made in our GRIM
inal law:
1. That all felony cases be forced to
trial within twelve months from date
of arrest, and that witnesses be sum.
moned and placed under bond for their
at the trial as soon after the
commission of the offense as practi-
cable.
2. That the sureties on all bonds in
felony cases shall designate and de-
scribe the property that qualities them
to become such, and that such bond
shall become a lien upon such property
from the date of signature.
3. That the ''stock law" be so
amended as to do away with the in
spection of hides, and substitute there
for horses and mules. That parties
moving animals ie. Horses, mules
or cattle, from county where there is
no inspector, shall be required to have
the certificate and seal of the district
or county clerk to their bill of sale VI
(if in their own brandt q copy of their |
brand record, under a penalty or fine |
-
seller, and in all other cases the certifi- |
cate and seal of the inspector.
New, in conclusion, If these sug-
yestions were carried out, the follow
ng would be q few of the beneficial
esults:
i. There would be no more felony
;ases "worn out" and dismissed after
nnumerable continuaDces on affidavit
Il defendants on account of absent
material tcitnesses "
2. There would be no moro 'tstrac
0nds, aud where bond was forfeited
would be collected and placed to
ne credit Of the county, materially as
listing to bear the burden of expense
Il such cases-a thing almost unheard
Il under the present system.
3. There would virtually be no more
heft of horses, mules and cattle, be-
ause there would be no market for
'soet stocE'. And our honest, hard
'orking farming felloe-citizeas could
Ie down to rest at night in peace and
ot have to guard their every day work
ninals 70 prevent their being stolen
uring the night, as Is now the case.
Respectfully, II
A FRTFNn OF CIVILIZATION