Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-17
DAILY POST. INTEluGENCER.
xou. srEHnY PsxI.uaINI.

The Cincinnati riot grew oot OF I'VE
fa;lure of the conrts Of that city to pan
ish criminals and the loOseness OF tne
laws and methods of procedure oHoei
which justice had become a hochely
instead OF a protection to society iuo
or,burst of popular wrath at the ineih-
cheney of the courts. the tardiuess eA
hibited 10 furnishing cii'oe nnd tue COZ
xnpt means used IN evading c 'nSictI"ns
%, Notorious and atrecious ofienses' IN
c,odino assassination aud murder d.
,.ct.d public attention all over tue
eountry TO the immunity from puni'h p
ment 81 the vast army Of feluns Who
nrey upou society unApprebended ana
il practical security.
4, isa well recognized fact tnnt pro
crastination il one of the most reiiable
and sucoessfuI defenses which can be
resorted to by lawyer to clear a euli'y
client. In a capital case, one IN wnicn
the proofs of guilt are uneqnivocai ana
convincing, the clear headed lawyer
who il to defend the accused invarlaoiy
strives for delay. His efforts In this re-
spec+ commence before the magistrate
who first investigates the circumstances
and. step by step, attend the criminal 10
she eallows, If by a most wondsrful tDi'-
chance he ever reaches there. Every
fsw DAYS We read of the execution oil
one of these exceptionally unlaeky Tel
lows for crime committed years ago
who. after several trials, cenvictions
and passing through all the various IN
tricanies and iuggleries Of compilcAt q
procedure, was finally hunted down
Rarely. indeed, does punishment foiio"
the .nyiction Of a murderer WITHOUT
rsoea.ed and prolonged respites and de-
lays. 4,
An effort has been made IN New forh
s,a.a In s.curs the more speedy punish
mspt OF murderers. A bill has been IN
troduced in the Legislature OF thai sta''
which provides that when aperssn snai
ha hald for trial for an offense the pun
isbment Of which may be death. and
eourt competent to try abe case may D
sitting at the time, il shall have jars
diotion to try the prisoner. noiwi'n
standing that the trial Of the case ma.
render necessary the extension OF tn
term of such court, and the summoninI
Of new or special grand jury, or oil
petit jury, or both. II court compe
tent to try capital eases shall not be ST.
ting within ten days from the time snc'
person shall be held for trial, the Gov
ernor shall assign qualified judge 4
hold a special court on day not NOR
than 10 days from the time the person
shall have been held for trial. No post
ponement OF the trial of such prisone
Ia allowed, save for the absence OF q ma
terisl and necessary witness. IL Is pro
vided that the time TO elapse betveei
sentence and execution she'll not exceed
ten DAYS. aud that the execution shall
not be- stayed except by reprievs from
the Governor. The judge before whom
the trial was had Ia required TO certify
t. the Governor his opinion as TO wheth
or the evidence warranted the verdic
of the jury, and the Governor may re
quire the opinion Of the ATTORNEY Gen
eral, and Of any judge or judges OF the
Supreme Court other than a judge Of
judges before whom an appeal in thu
case might be heard at the general torm
whether anything prsiudicial to th
prisoner had occurred ON the trial.