Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-01
CREME AND IT'S PRoTECrf0N rs.
DER OUR LAWS.
Editor of TIE Register.

EnitOf OF me hrrtStr'
In your Saturday mornings issue you ad-
wise everyone to keep fire arms about their
homes and use them on the burglars that
almost every night invade some OF our
homes and steal our property. This is good
and sensible advice, and We would all FOL
low il and practice the shotgun policy, as
suggested by you, it would be much the
safest and surest way to punish criminals.
Under the laws OF this State criminal
has more rights and privileges than the
State itself has. In the jury PANEL the
criminal has the right and privilege to
strike off eight out Of the twenty, and the
State must then take the jury just as IL 10
made by the criminal.
The State has nothing to say or do in the
panneling of the jury. In case of a YER
uiCt being found against the Stale, the
right of appeal is denied the State, how
ever uninstly found, but the right of ap-
peal is secured the criminal, and he can
nave a new trial allowed him if he demand
II, and ifrefused he then can appeal to the
Supreme Court. No such privileges and
rights are guaranteed the State.
Under Section one, chapter one hum
bred and twenty-five page 246, acts OF 81
and 50, the criminal can go into the Court,
and on his affidavit have his case contin-
ned from term to term, at the expense OF
the state.
From our laws, then, il will be seen that
instead Of protesting the people, they. do
Just the opposite-protect the criminal
Burglary has become so common and ter
rible as a crime in our country that the
punishment for it should be life contine-
ment in the penitentiary. 1t is well
known that burglars are always armed TO
take life if it is in their way, and how many
persons are killed by burglars IN their
homes every year in this country. In
New York the present Legislature passed
a law giving a prisoner whose punishment
is confinement for life in the State prison,
the right Of closing his case before the
inry. Now, all of this kind Of legislation
and laws are in favor of crime and crimi.
mails, and ssainst society, and life and
property. Another bad feature OF our own
times is our pre- sent Jury system.
1t needs remodeling badly. A jury was
at one time looked upon by the people as
the palladium OF their rights and liberties,
but not so now.
We have been taught in recent years to
look with distrust and not hope on what
iuries will DO, because our experience
teaches us that they are, nine times out Oh
ten, more apt TO decide in favor OF 4 GRIM
inal than against him.
The Legislature and our courts can alone
remedy these Things, ana untll We get the
needed remedies lynch law and your shot
gun policy should be adopted everywhere.
There is another potential aid and escape
from Justice furnished crime and its per-
petrators il is the press Of some leading
papers in this coutry, as well as leading
men, expend more labor in behalf OF
criminals and then escape from justice.
than they do in behalf of the good and
yirtuous of society.
Politics, religion and secret orders exert
q tremendous influence over Legislatures,
Jurors and Courts everywhere in our
land, and generally for the accused. II a
member of party, church or order. The
question is, where when and how shall We
bring things back into there old channels
again, so that justice may be melted out to
The guilty, and honest citizens have secur-
ity for their lives and property guaran-
tCFd them.
SO,lETY.
UIr,jitU thrill 80 l~S;