The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-08-20

preaching HIM we informed him
that since he had himself been a justice of
the peace we knew he was capable of Civ
ing us q bit OF desired information and that
entirely regardless of what Squire Comings
had done, we would like to be informed by
him as to whether or not justice of the
peace could, under the law, assess costs
against man without finding him guilty
Of violation of the ordinances. The
Chief replied that only for state offences
could the person not convicted be forced to
pay the costs of court
Reporter-"But the case before Squire
Comings was not state case
"No; it was not"
Reporter river man Smith, is IN
Jail is hel"
Chief-"Yes; and | would never have
executed the writ upon which he was taken
there
We were now thoroughly convinced that
Squire Comings action was objectionable
and unprecedented, and now to ascertain to
a certainty whether or not Smith was real
ly in Jail, we visited that place, and as we
expected, found him there. He related the
same story that Others had told and was
very emphatic in his assertion that he
would sue the Squire for false imprison-
ment
We had resolved not TO make any further
reference to the acts of Squire Comings, or
even to mention his name in our col
umns for the time being, at least,
but such acts as there are entirely too much
for our stomach and, We must comply with
the demands bf the public and of right,
by enteringi solemn protest against
them. 1t f sometimes the case that,
when the q11l& has been slight one,
and, perhal lcusable, the officer or
officers arresting any man for violating any
ordinance and the judge before whom the
case is brought, before the trial
has begun, agree mutually to
abandon the prosecution upon payment
of the costs. This may be excusable.
But TO bring men into court charged with
the violation of an ordinance, try and
accquit them Of the charge, but assess the
costs of the trial to pay the judge,
the officers and witnesses their fees
and, upon the refusal of one of
the victims to obey the order Of the court,
issue writ for his Imprisonment in the city
prison--this, We say, is proceeding 50 outra-
geous, so contrary 70 all principles oflaw and
equity that every person possessed Of COM
nonsense enough to distinguish right from
gross wrong, must shrink back with feelings
Of mingled disgust and amazement at the
5oldness and utter disregard for right dis
played in the act.
A man that has been entrusted with the
scales Of justice, and that would do
as Comings is said to have done in this
case, must be either ignorant or unprnci-
pled-ignorant of the planest and CON-
monest principle Of law, or unprincpled,
because knowingly violating it. Ia either
case he is utterly unfit TO serve the people
in that capacity. Such prostitution of our
courts of justice should receive the severest
condemnation of all persons who
have any regard for their own
or the community'S welfare. Such
high handed proceedings in places
where the most important interests of
community are to be guarded must, of nee
essity, have corrupting influence upon it,
and il persisted in, injure the reputation Of
the city. For the good OF the people of
Cairo, and for no other reason,
do we present these facts and sentiments to
our readers.