Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-28
EASTMAN.
Defense of CriminaIs-The Recent Exc
cutiOns-PracticaI Jack Brown.

EASTMAN, GA, October % VIII the NEws
permit me through its columns to make a sug-
gestion to our lawmakersf 1 really think the
Legislature ought to enact law changing the
present loose method OF the appointing of
counsel by our courts to defend parties &C
cused Of crime when they are unable to en-
ploy counsel for themselves. Humanity, of
course, demands that no prisoner shall be put
upon trial in the courts charged with any GRIM
inal offense without the benefit OF counsel to
represent him, to see that he has a perfectly
fair and impartial trial, that no advantage is
taken Of the prisoner by the prosecution, and
that all the law and evidence in his favor is
properly laid before the court and jury trying
the cause. Neither do l believe there is an
attorney so devoid of feeling and human
ity as to refuse, for any reason per-
sonal to himself. to undertake the de-
fense Of the poor and defensaIess. But
the way this thing is now managed the ep-
pOintment OF counsel by the courts has grown
TO be perfect nuisance and imposition. When
a prisoner is brought into court he is simply
asked il he has an attorney to represent him.
and whether or not he is able TO procure coun-
sci. II he answer in the negative. as is usually
the case, the court, without further form or
ceremony, assigns counsel Tor the defense.
when. as a matter Of fact. in nine cases out Of
ten the defendant has made no effort whatever
to emVloy counsel. and has not even spoken to
any one about taking his case This ought not
so to be. II seems to me that before appoint
ing counsel the defendant should be required
to make and sign an affidavit under oath that
he has diligently endeavored to procure coun-
sci. but that owing to his poverty he has utter
ly failed and is not able to do So. Why, it has
come 70 pass that nowadays about nine-tenths
OF the defendants in criminal cases never en-
ploy or even try to employ counsel to defend
them. Especially is this true when the defend
ant is a negro. They almost invariably say
they are not able to do so-by which 1 suppose
they merely mean that they don't feel that they
can spare the money to pay a lawyers fee. II
they could worm cut OF it on this sort OF pre-
text, great many people, no doubt, would
never pay for anything they get.
It is the almost universal verdict of the citi-
Zens or this place-and they certainly have the
best opportunity of knowing-thatt the account
OF the late riot and Of the trials, convic
tons, sentence and execution Of the rioters,
published in the Savannah MORNISG NEWS. is
the most accuta ate account. and the fairest to
all parties concerned, Of any that has been
ness comes the Macon telegraph and MesSen
ger. The account given by the Atlanta
Constitution contains many errors-some
Of them quite material. And the New
York HeTdid's account Is q mere bundle
OF inaccuracies Some OF the papers say that
Col. Jack Brown abandoned the cases as coun-
sci for the defense before the trials were over.
never heard OF this before, although was
his associate counsel Nor do know of any
other Republican engaged In the defense be-
sides Col Brown. / don't think Mr.. Taylor. of
Hawkinsville, or Mr.. Symmes. OF Brunswick,
or Mr. Haygood, OF Montezume, is q Repubh-
can and know the writer is not Still, can
not speak positively and Of my own knowledge
as to the politics of these other gentlemen.
But it is not my purpose 70 undertake review
and correction Of the numerous errors that
appear in the accounts OF the riot, execution,
etc, given by the different newspapers.
While speaking Of Colonel Jack Brown and
politics, however, an honest confession, made
by Colonel Brown, Of what sort OF politician
he is, occurs TO me. During the trials OF the
rioters Judge Pate and the members OF the bar
we're discussing the subject of politics one day
during recess for dinner. In the course of the
conversation Col. Brown very candidly remark
ed: We'll, gentlemen, I am Republican be-
cause it pays me to be one. l belong to the party
that has the government, and I always expect
to. Whenever you Democrats get the govern
ment will come over TO you and be as good a
Democrat as any OF you. But l make money
by being Republican while that parry is in
power. There is no principle about it. l would
not be Democrat from principle. Eor am
q Republican from principle, for there is
no such thing as principle In politics.
It's money with me. When l want to take q
trip North or out West / confer with the de-
partments at Washington and they manage to
tx up some government business for me and
pay me well 10 attend 10 it. and thus travel
without expense. Yes, gentlemen, make
money out OF politics by belonging to the
party in power. See" J: B., JR.