The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-05

'sisslys IN the ssieollon N lafiea ~ ~ cse
so,e ass VI m lmelnseht ana dlsin'efes'sd
body " men This IL noe iheofeucaily
Tie oblsot NJ the lofy iaws, but how ="
sboa they iaii N accomplishing ihelf Oh
isct, how iafoloai and devoid m
intelligence and lfnpaftality The go
called Investigations u the sooalleu
Iurles are the public know 10 their cost ana
disgust. Some able and practical states
man and lawyer In each Of the states must
have the Jury laws 40 reformed that II VIII
be physical and moral impossiblllty 10
empannel n Jury other than OF Intelligent
practical and dsinttIested men, not theo-
reticaly impossible as at present, but actu'
ally impossible. Vicious, corrupt ana "
norant iurios have been dragging the law
and courts into ridicule and contempt
oftener than any otner Influence. But as
corolary to this is the other suggested re-
form, viz That the courts ought 10 De 30
reorganzed as to give to some tribunal IN
every county In every day of the year the
Jurisdiction of all criminal ofienses 80 as to
preyent long intervals between the terms
of the courts, and as consequence frequent
and troublesome and lengthy continuances'
The court should be a competent tribunal
to pass sentence and should be open the
year round, or goodly portion of every
month, The ease with which, and the
practice by which cases are continued
In every state of the American Union until
the material witnesses have died or moved
out OF the way or forgotten material facts'
and the community have grown Indifferent
to the fate OF the criminal, or change oil
venue has carried the cause to strangers,
are fruitful, perhaps the most fruitful,
sources Of the non.enforcement OF the laws
Tne first estimate of a crime is generally
the correct estimate thereof, and the offender
should be brought to justice while yet his
offending is fresh in the memory OF wit
: nesses and the people, and while it is pos
sible to bring into court, without special
costs or trouble, all the material witnesses
to the material facts of the case. 1t is in
the prevention OF long and frequent post
ponements by keeping the courts always
open that the English court officials are
enabled to bring criminals to such certain
and speedy punishment of their evil deeds.
To so administer the laws is the
only way to strike terror to the vicious and
criminal classes, the only means by which
the majesty and dignity of the law can be
upheld. To see justice constantly thwarted
and the courts beaten by ignorant and
bribed Jurors and tedious delays of import
ant trials, is to drag the law into contempt
and double the crime of the day. The
matter of cost, if the law can be, by such
corrections in our system and practice as
we have suggested, more vigorously en-
forced, is of no consequence, but calcula-
tions will show that by saving the tremend-
Gus costs, piled up by frequent continuan.
ces, the plan OF organization limited at in
this article, will really prove matter oil
economy, but at any rate not increase to
any appreciate extent the aggregate costs
of the judiciary system. Here is field,
this simple matter of the speedier and bet
ter enforcement of the law, where pains
taking, experienced and practical legisla-
tors can win world of renown. 1t is to be
hoped that some of our Texas legislators
and legal lights will see and appreciate the
question. -