Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-28
rood FOR REFLECTION.
emmnnitated.

The rapid increase Of crime in our State
since YOU last assembled at the Capitol,
demands at your hands important changes
in the criminal and misdemeanor statutes
Of our State.
Crime must have It's source Of beginning.
or place OF origin training, cultivation aud
elimination, somewhere in our midst, aud
a will De my purpose to tell you where, IN
almost all instances, these sources of crime
G-o 70 be tOund.
there are three distinct sources, prolific
ones 700, especially in our cities and towns,
70 which. as lawmakers, your attention Is
g,spgct.ully directed.
The FIRST is, the loose and imperfect man
nrr which the prosecuting attorneys enforce
the Law against ipuor and beer dealers, who
violate the law ia selling to minors, and by
selling on the Sabbath dav. This is a
fearful source Of evil TO orr Young and is
the first step downward in crime.
In order 70 reach such offences, Justices
crlv should have jurisdiction over them,
and no, grand juries and prosecuting at
,oineys. as row provided by law.
The second source OF crime, and one that
Is rapidly spreading itself into all parts Of
oar social fabric, is prostitution. In the
city OF Weeeliug alone can DE found nearly
one hundred homes now cursed with this
widespread evil. Hundreds Of our young
annual; become TiClimS 20 the seductions
If these dens of sin and death aud are tor.
Ger lost 20 society as good citizens.
This c~iersr, in all lis notifications.
wherever found, whether in the principal OF
he inmates Of such rendezvous, should be
brought by special legislation within the "a
risdlcuOn Of a justice, and not, as now, to
DC furnished only on al indictment by a
grand Jury. The iaw should be so amended
aS TO punish not only the principal but all
who frequent and all wfo are inmates Of
such houses. or wherever found for the pur.
pCse,oi prostitution. iucestuous cohaOitation,
adultery, :ornica;ion and all and every sex,
ual crime, except where, as now provided Oy
law, it is a felony.
In all oIeuses Of this class, except the party
is charged with a felony, the Justice should
have Jurisdiction TO impose such penalties
and puujShmentS. a are Row provided by
la~ and imposed b orr Judges. The third
scarce OF crime is that Of gambling. In
he cry az WEcvl.Ug gambling is carried on
'. A ~ 'NAN AIEi "a oAf 80 "a HNN
I l;t,d States. according tu It's population.
No ,ifort Is made by those running these
,&py, tC ,uacsal thcm from the officers Of
:Eg law, bat ia defiance OF law, day light
and very thing else. gamblers ply their
ayoratIonS not only IN small rooms, sheds,
Oft houses, steamboats,. on the streets. in
'he alleys and board piles, bat in larger and
apparently more respectable places, where
law makers as well as other citizens are
participants in aud v~iola,ers of rhe law.
From this source oCcrime graduate most
OF our felons. Gambling leads to murder,
,we have had several in this city from this
source to burglary, highway robbery petit
larceny and all forms of crimes from the
greatest to the smallest. 1t leads those who
follow It, from habits Of industry and nse-
~tuiness 10 want aud Incidence. misery and
desth. lts destinations are such that the
Young lad il almost impossible . resist
thea and shake them oil. Step By step
hey are led or to ruin. This is an ell
that demands your special attention.
II YOU wish to save the youth and all
Who are now victims or this ruiuous and
destructive practice, you will amend the
present law so rs to give justices iurisdic
non over !, with such penalties and punish
wcL;s a now prugIdcd by law, ONLY severer
ores il in your vision, you should deem
them necessary.
Other changes of our criminal laws and
t.ry laws, demand your attention this SEES
sen. The manner IN which our iurics are
nos ,orued sLould De so modified as 10 only
allow the prisoner 10 strike of out four /
names from the panel, and the State should
have the same nigh, to strike from the panel
the same number. As il is now the prisoner
u likes ami selects his own Jury from the
panel Of twcnty, the State having no say or
,art in the matter whatever.
The act passed March -. l-~2, should be
So amended aS to provide that the Judge be-
ire whom The prisoner is brought, whether
h. Is charged with a felony or petit larceny,
shall have the power to grant or refuse a
continuance OF the cause, and not a. now,
by the simple affidavit Of the defendant.
".rhout giving cool aud s..liClcu' reasons
tur such continuance.
{ mil the law is changed the criminal
d. every advantage over society for all he
na, 20 10 : 90 70 into court and file his aIii.
ar,I' tor "a Continuance Of his case, ami the
. .rt Is bound 10 allow it. whether right or
Wong
Another important change sho Id De
20 tie in the law prescribing fees of officers.
. der the present law no justice can re
rr his tees ia criminal cases.
This should be 50 amended tina, Sherills |
should pay such fee bills after proper cer;i-
alton Jy the prosecuting attorney of the
c atty in which the proceedings take
place.
III these suggestions are respectfully sub
De- .tt.d for your earnest and special atten-
P y. because oi the urgent neccSSi' = causing
; presentation before you At this session.
Your constituents in every county
throughout the State demand at your hands
Il 90 legislation | have imperirctlv outlined
owe. CnvguNWE,rU