Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-13
The Prompt Arrest and SPEEDY
Punishment OF Criminals.


It's source Of genuine coDgTatulatlon
to our citizens that our local authorities
have shown a disposition to adopt the
suggestions offeredFin our article on the
above subject, which was published yes
terday, and have taken steps for here
after efecting the speedy and more Ger
tain arrests of viOlstors of law in this
community As viii be seen By refer
ence to our local columns. the County
Commissioners, at their meeting yester-
day, took under Amusement the SOLUTION
of the serious problem OF putting
a stop to the frequency Of crime, and
the immunity Of criminals in our midst
As a result Of their deliberstion, It was
found that tie Commissioners had no
authority themselves to offer rewards for
the apprehension Of criminals, but II was
determined TO open q correspondence
with the Governor and request him, st
once. to announce that suitable rewards
would be paid for the capture Of the half
dozen or more murderers from this
vicinity. whose hands are not yet
dry Of the blood Of their victims,
but who are at large, and feel little or no
apprehension Of being brought to jus
tee
This IS a step IN the right direction,
but it is only a step. If nothing else is
accomplished. but little substantial good
will result Perhaps one or two Of our
many unknown or unarrested criminals
may-under the incentive of special &c
wards offered for their apprehension,
after a sufficient time has elapsed to en-
able them to make good their escape to
places of comparative safety-be finally
captured. Still, after that is done, all IS
done. The evl-disposed will still feel
that there are no very great restraints
thrown around the future indulgence Of
their inclinations, and we may yet ex-
pect to hear Of the frequent and reckless
commission Of deeds Of every degree Of
criminality. So long as murders
and murderous assaults can be
committed. and the perpetrators thereof
enjoy a reasonable hope Of escaping
Justice, either because they know that
no inducements will be offered for tier
arrest before they can find a com
paratively safe place Of refuge, or that,
If they fail to make use Of their privileges
in this respect, that they still have an
excellent chance Of either being &C
quilted, or Of receiving the benefits of
mistrial, OF if disappointed in all these
hopes, Of finally securing a pardon from
the Governor. just so long will evil
/ flourish, and crime defy the authorities
and the law.
I What. thSp is needed to thoroughly
4 purge our community Of criminals, and
effectually suppress crime, is for Of
tenders to be fully impressed with the
/ idea that their chances of escape are at
a minimum, that the majesty Of the law
is determined to assert itself, and that
stern and swift punishment will follow
them without fear, favor or Partially.
To effect this desirable consummation,
the following suggestions should be
promptly adopted. First, there should
be no delay in offering suitable rewards
for violators of law. This can be &C
complished if the Governor will author
ize our County Commissioners and city
authorities, in their discretion, to declare
that any detective arresting criminal,
with reasonable proof to convict, shall
receive a sum sufficient TO compensate
him for his services and time. This will
naturally put these officials on the alert,
and be an incentive to them to do their
best to bring offenders to justice. 1t can
not be expected that any man will de-
vote his energies and efforts TO the ap-
prehension of a criminal when he is to
receive no benefit therefrom. This
suggestion might the more readily
be carried into effect if there was a COM
petent, reliable and salaried detective
system regularly connected with our PC
lice force.
In the next place juries should deter
mine to show no favor to criminals, but,
while giving them the benefits of law
full doubts, also give the State all TO
which it is entitled. In other words
juries should consider themselves at least
as much counsel for the commonwealth
as for the defense. Then the courts
should be swift and impartial in the ad-
ministration Of justice in the interest Of
society, and last, but by no means least,
the Executive OF the State should never
grant a pardon unless he is fully and
personally convinced, in his own mind,
that injustice has been committed. He
should not be wholly influenced in such
cases by petitions, 10 matter by whom
signed.
When all these suggestions are adopt
ed and rigidly enforced. then, and not
until then, viii crime be suppressed and
criminals cease to regard offenses against
the law and the community as pastImes
accompanied by only sufficient danger to
invest them with pleasurable excitement.