Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-01
SINGLE COPIES TWO GENTS.
Tuesday, April L, 1854.
MURDER AND MOB Law.


An article in the '@Topics of the Times" in
the current number of the Century could
not have been more timely had its author
known when he wrote it that the Cincinnati
riot was to take place. He calls attention to
the fact that during the year which has Just
closed the telegraph has reported fifteen
hundred and seventeen murders in the
United States. During the year 1882 twelve
hundred and sixty six murders were reported.
Over against the fifteen hundred murders of
the last year we have the report Of barely
ninety-three legal executions. Many of
these must have been cases in which the
crime had been committed during 1882, while
many of the criminals of 1883 had not been
brought to trial. The same year that wit
messed ninety three legal executions witness
ed one hundred and eighteen lynchings. The
lawless executions outnumbersd the lawful
ones by twenty five per cent.
No very profound philosophy. it Is pointed
out, is required to explain the relation Of
these facts. 1.-THE insfhsiency of the ma
chinery of justice has led to the introduction
of these barbarous methods. In some of
the States adultery is regarded by the law
not even as misdemeanor. What wonder
that private vengeance sometimes rushes in
to redress mortal injury Of which the law
refuses to take cognizsnce. But 1t is not so
much defective legislation IS inefficient ad-
ministration that produces lawlessness. The
laws against murder are strong enough; but
when the people know that not one in doz-
on of the willful murderers receives the Just
recompense of his deeds, and that TECHNICAL
ties and bubbles are constantly allowed to
shelter the worst criminals, they themselves
become desperate; and, breaking through
the just and salutary restraints of law, they
deal vengeance right and left in bloody and
turbulent fashion"
The small number of murdsrers hanged by
the sheriff and the greater number hanged by
the mobs should, the Century writer thinks,
be evidence enough that the administration
of our criminal courts in many quarters is
fatally defective and needs reforming. He
continues: The only classes of persons in
terested in maintaining the present state of
things are the criminals and the criminal
lawyers; and it is not for their exclusive
benefit that society is organized. The con-
trast between the swift, firm, and sure meth
DDS of English and Continental courts in
dealing with great criminals. and the tardy,
feeble, and abortive methods of our own,
should sting our national pride to some ener-
getic measures of reform. The people must
rouse themselves to demand a moro vigorous
of the laws, and they must see to
it that judges and prosecuting attorneys are
chosen who have the ability and the will to
bring evil doers to justice. The judges on
the bench may well inquire whether the
protection of the criminal has not assumed
Importance in our criminal
procedure. IF, in our fear lest an Innocent
man may suffer. the Law itself, which is the
only protection of innocent men, becomes
utterly paraly zed, then there is a call for q
revision of our methods and our maxims, and
the infusion of new spirit into our laws.
Every judge who will brush aside the hair
splitting devices of the lawyers, and insist
that criminal trials shall be conducted with
rigor and directness of purpose, will deserve,
aud will be likely to win, the approval of his
fellow citizens.
The lax administration of criminal law in
Cincinnati has produced terrible results 1t
will be well if the warning afforded by the
dreadful affair is needed.