Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-11


/ spent could be made the means OF
accommodating every lunatic in the
state in six months or less time, and
| ii would be n profitable and humane
I investment to the country II the
houses should he torn down, II of no
fssther use, after better structures
could he erected.
THE JUDICIARY.
There has been marked improve
ment in the execution of the laws in
both civil and criminal cases. The
creation of the commission of appeals
to aid the supreme court, and the
court [of appeals in civil cases has
been of much service in enabling
those courts to dispatch their business
and thereby prevent the unreasonable
delays in litigated cases which had so
| long been just cause of complaint.
The gentlemen appointed to fill po-
sitions in that court have labored ar
duously, with an ability that has enti-
tied them to respect and full conf
dence.
1n.the district courts there has been a
gradual Improvement in the admins
tration of the laws of the state, by men
of experience and ability consentins
to hold the office of district Judge. In ,
those districts wherein district. attor-
neys have been appointed or elected ,
the criminal laws have been generally
much more efficiently enforced. In
the more populous counties the county
attorneys have generally done well in
prosecuting criminals. Our jury law,
as perfected and carried into effect
has been of great service in producing
this result. The great defects in the
execution of our criminal laws are,
first, the want of experience and abil-
lty In the attorneys represent
ing the state to meet the great
ability of the bar opposed to :
them. This | say without any dis !
arrangement of the many promising ,
young gentlemen who now fill the
offices of district and county attorneys. {
Lawyers of emiuence generally will
not fill these offices under existing cir !
cumstances. In trials for the most |
heinous crimes, Il scene is often wit
messed in the courthouse discreditable {
to the state and ruinous to the public /
interest, which is, where a criminal is /
being defended by number of the {
ablest lawyers in the country, opposed {
by some clever young man of respecta- ,
bic ability, with the additional disad- I
vantage Of powerful influences being /
cxerted outside OF the courthouse for
the acquittal of the criminal, which
he has no power to counterfeit. :
To remedy this defect, / recommend /
that the legislature would take steps
to amend the constitution so as to r
have the office of district attorney to .
be filled by the appointment of the {
governor, and to provide for it in ,
every Judicial district, with salary
the same as that of the Office of the ,
district judge Further experience .
and observation convinces me that !,
unless that or some other adequate /
remedy Is resorted to, the criminal
LAWS VIII never be properly executed
in this state
The second great defect is in the
failure OF peace officers to report Of /
ieilses, so as to have prosecutions in
stltuted, which is made their especial
duty by the law, where they have
knowlef ge or credible information that
otlenses have been committed
IL Is hardly necessary here to specify :
the humorous oflenses that receive
popular liberation, though well known
10 be continually committed, which
are occasionally prosecuted in n way, {
10 impose upon the perpetrators sor !
oil TAX ior the benefit of the officers, /;
without in the least degree preventing !
4,
1t is, however, due to those officers !,
10 state, that in the more serious Of !
lenses, such as murder, robbery, and
inert, they have eXerted vigilance and /;
prompt activity in making arrests, and
90 not now usually wait for rewards TO
pe offered, before bestrring them
seiVes IN the discharge of their duties. Y
REWARDS.
| rpSppctf,Illy rafa, 49,, 30 -, -. l
sage, giving an account of the money /.
pald out on my order for rewards for
lhe arrest of criminals, fees for attor-
neys etc.
MY course has been to issue rewards &
freely and promptly for the arrest and {
return OF criminals who have fled to c
other states, regulating the amount |
given according to the magnitude of t
the oilense, the distance and expense / t
OF travel, and a reasonable compensa- @
uoh for heservice and risk The pay 4
nieht OF The rewards have been condi- i
TONED upon the requistion being c
strictly complied with, by getting d t
warrant OF arrest from the governor of [
the state to whom ii is directed, so as Il
TO prevent the practice of kidnapping \
criminals in other states. c
When sureties on bail-bonds have a
principals, small reward has been Il
given TO encourage them in their Of Ii
iorts: Open rewards, when the Grim. f
maj Is within the state, or when his
residence is unknown, have been .el-
dom granted, with an occasional en- "
ceplon, III cases OF secret crimes n
When the perpetrators are unknown. q
By pursuing the policy here indica- il
tea, the peace officers of the state are Il
thrown upon their official lesponsibil. OF
" III the regular dischare of their du- d
Ties, The expenditure of money under Il
my control has been kept within Il
reasonable bounds, and n large number Il
OF criminals have been arrested mo.t OF
OF whom have been brought back from III
other states, at reasonable cost A
REMISSION OF PINES AM Fonprrr- Il
URES. III
Inc power granted TO the chiaf ~
executive on this subject. like tha !. y.
pafuoning power, is not capable of u
being controlled 10y any definite previ. g. g.
ousiy specified rules Of action. Rain, 10
an extraordinary power, 1t was c,'i, %
uehtly intended 70 prevent accident,I ~
INJUSTICE, or undue hardshlps ofn snri. ~
Gus character, and not Us one of ia %
".ituihary processes in the execution Of
me criminal law, as ii has hasn AZ
almost continually ATTEMPTED ia hn us
MADE, frequently on very frivnlous OF
ifctelccs OF merit sunnortod - - bi