Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-24
An Importau, sablect.

TO tho Editor of the Gaze &c;
One OF the most important subjects
that claim the attention OF the legIsla-
ture Is that OF a reform OF the criminal
law. II has come 10 be an intimate
conviction of the public mind that u
man who possesses wealth or social
influence cannot, however tlagrant or
aggravated the crime and however
strong aud incontrovertible the evil
dence, be brought TO punishment
The poor, the ignorant and the friend
less are easily caught in the mesbes of
the law, and furnish victims 10 the
gallows and penltentlary daily. Here
the law Is ell cive, and justice vindi-
Gated, but only here. The instances
where men OF wealth and high social
standing have suffered the penalty OF
the Ia n are 80 few that ~ this moment
/ caunot recall single case 10 mind,
either In Texas courts or any other
state courts
or those who have gone unwhlpt
of justice the cases are almost innu-
merable and OF daily occurrence SUCH
cases as those OF Buford Of Kentucky,
Dukes Of Pennsylvania, Rothschild
aud Ben Thompson OF Texas, the very
peculiar one that excited the great
rot la Cincinnati, with hundreds
similar aud only less notorious, have
product d most deplorabl, effect up n
the public mind, and wrought so gem
.ral u distiuzt OF the courts that the
| first impulse OF the people, whenever
great crime is committed, IL 10 foTcl'
bly, take The fender from the officers
OF the law and swiDg him up to the
| lrst limb How could this state Of
affairs exist II the criminal law WAS
net oeiective2 In fact, the law de-
lays and well known lo0pholes for
he escape OF those who have the
means 10 enlist able counsel, has
| brought the administration OF the law
| into profound contempt
1t IL time a remedy should be pro-
vIded for u condition OF affairs 30 do
plorable, and growing daily worse In
| lis demoTalIzing Influence upon the
community Que OF the first requisitts
! TO the well being OF the community IL
| re- pect aud obedience 10 the lew Tbs
I mas not yet been entirely lost for
| the law, but for the proceedings
! Of the courts under the law, the con.
tempt 4 widespread. Mr. pendietop's
| Jury bill, II passed, will be an import
/ ant step on tue road 10 reform, and II
lie TO be hoped that II Will not be the
firat step only. There are few, even
OF the legal profession, who, like Mr.
4 Arniistead, believe the criminal law
perfect. Outside the pTofes don there
! are none who are not painfully made
aware Of It's deficiencies Under the
law, az It Is, an Intelligent and up
right Jury can, In mu,d der case, sci
dom he ohtsined, when the murderer
can command the services OF able
counsel. IA proposed 70 be amended
the chances TO do 90 will be greatly
| increased. Ia arbitrary government
II IL doubtless necessary 20 surround
the accused with every safeguard pos
sible to insure him sgainet an unjust
conviction, but precisely opp 'sits
condition obtains here, whore q man
of.apy note IL 80 projected by ttcnnie
alitirs and legal eaibbles. that II IL al
almost imposibilIty 10 prevent his nc
quittal.
Of lynchiuR all over the country
shows how widespread IL the feeling o
dlssAtisfaciion and want Of eoBfidencl
among che people, and IL convincing
ali refieeiIng min' that revolution
10 the methods 81 procedure In on
courts 10 an nrg. Mt necessity, or mol
violence will more and more u.uTl
their functions IL ~ ~
The best smoking tobacco IA Litti
. J Inixer "