The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-18
COMPARATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS
JUSTICE

America for some years past nave furnished
food for much reflection and have given
rise TO much criticism as to the manner in
which justice is generally administered in
this country. To try man for a crime is
always delicate matter, and it is true
should proceed in only the calmest and
most unimpassioned manner, but it does
seem as if something were wanting in the
premises in the United States. We car
scarcely take mp paper without noticing
that this and that noted criminal has re-
ceived new trial here or secured reyer-
sal there, or that he has been tried so many
times and has had the rope around his neck
on so many occasions, but is finally turn
ed loose or sent for an insignificant term Of
years to a State prison. Thcresut is Grim
ened by "the laws delay" and burglaries
and rape and robbery aud murder run riot
aud the whole land holds up its hands, 50
to speak, in horror at the catalogue of das-
tardly and rapidly increasing violations of
the law. Conviction becoms the exception
rather than the rIle, and is only accom-
plished by the prosecuting officers after
years, frequently, Of Continuous
and persistent prosecution of the
case. That these are facts, dis
closed by the known course of events
and the records of the courts themselves no
intelligent or reading man will deny. We
have statutes in every State to reach
almost every conceivable crime or act OF
wrong-doing and VIC have generally
throughout the nation efficient officers and
a suiiiciency of officers but crime increase
with terrible ratio and six or seven out OF
nearly every ten recognized criminals es-
cape "unwhipped of justice" In no other
co lntry in the world, we venture the asser.
ton, is there such an imperfect adminstra.
ton Of justice as in America. Assassina.
ton is the darkest of crimes and
should be met with speedier and
more certain punishment than any
other. We do not contend that because
man is charged with, however truthfully
and VIGOROUSLY, the preparation of an of.
Tense he should be denied legitimate time
for his defense and trial. but we do contend
that the statutes of this country should be
so changed as to render impossible long
delays and repeated trials, in the course OF
which, facts are forgotten, interest dies out
and witnesses are removed, and by which
instrumentalitics the gnlltyscscape. Take,
for instance, the Guiteau trial We believe
| the assassins of the Gar were disposed OF
in n couple Of days and yet, they had an
opportunity to present their defense. But
the trial of our American assassin,
who has repeatedly confessed all
the details of the crime and in whose case
is but the one inquiry, "does he know right
or wrong?' has already reached its sixth
week, and bids fair to continue two weeks
longer. But n noted trial concluded in
England few weeks since has caused con-
siderable comment both here and in Great
Britain. We refer to the now celebrated
case of LEROY. Some six months ago he
murdered and robbed passenger on the
Brighton railway, was apprehendcd within
six weeks or two months, tried a month
alterwars and hung three weeks after lis
conviction. The matter has given rise to
the discussion of the comparative admins.
trations of justice in England and America,
and we must confess that the comparison
is damaging to us. Lefroy's trial lasted
but three days, and when the prisoner was
condemned to death no one doubted the
business Of the sentence. The nvestiga.
ton was sufficiently extended to afford him
hearing, but brief enough to avoid confu-
sion. His trial was the more satisfactory
because of its brevity. The jury and the
people could bring decisive facts before
their minds with dstincncss which pro-
longed trial would have rendered
impossible. Why should Guiteau's
trial, or for that, any criminals, be
longer than Lefroy's, or longer
than a week at the utmost? And why
should Justice sleep any more in the United
States than in England? The only reason
of course is in the inleriority of its admins
tration here, and the proixity permitted in
American courts is disgrace to the
country. Our legislators, judges, court
officials, in fact every citizen ought to know
that il they would check the increasing
volume of crime, the laws, just as they arc
written, ought to be enforced. 1t is not
so the best writer's agree, so much the
severity as the certainty of punishment
that deters criminals and preserves order
But let it be understood once in any
community that the law, with
impartial and speedy Justice, will
be visited upon every viola.
tor of the Criminal Code, without bubble.
technicality, fear or favor, and We would
be astonished at the infrequency of crime
and the scarcity Of criminals. In this lies
the superiority in the administration of ius.
tice in Europe. The judges and all the Va.
rious officers of the court there, are rem.
dered more independent of the masses than
here and enforce the law more fcarlessly.
Our officials, too often we regret to say, nrc
dilatory and yielding in their conduct on,
OF Difference to asupposed public opinion
whose servants they are and in awe ofwhich
they almost constantly stand. In England
nothing is thought Of but swift attention
to the business before them md
| tho criticism of tbis ~ ,Lat 49, =,