Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-08-06
A CASE In POINT.

(Bucyrus JournaD
The Journal has frequently had occasion
to remark that the administration of Grim.
nal law in this Nation was in itself a
crime against the people. The only way
to reform appears TO be by such an open
defiance OF the law as to show a popular
demand that cannot be ignored. II lynch.
ings, breaches Of the peace, and summary
judgements even to taking life, are OF fire.
quent occurrence; il, even in so long set
tied State ms Ohio, these things are oc-
curing with increased frequency, the Jour
nal will have no word Of ccnsure, except
against those judges, legislators, and law
yers who 30 execute their public duties
that they make no effort TO reform the
criminal procedure in the interest of the
people, 20 that criminal trial will no
longer be monatrous abuse OF the rights
and interests of the people.
Illustrations of the iniquity, it is Moth
ing less, of The system OF crimina! pro-
cedure in the United States are numerous
many might be cited from this county
he trial of the murderer OF Snodgrass is
fresh in the mind of every one, but pro-
minent case in point, a case of national no.
torieiy, is the Maxwell case, now in sus-
pense at 81. Loui..
Maxwell, an Englishman, fell in with
Preller, fellow countryman who had ap-
parently plenty Of money. He admins
tered chloroform TO him and killed him,
stuffed him In trunk, possessed himself
OF the money and effects Of his victim, dis
euised himself. assumed a French name,
accent and nationality, and fled TO New
Zealand. He was traced, arrested, brought
back, tried and found gully. His cruel
crime was made, ii possible, more ifa-
monsly villainous In the fact, that, for n
defence, lie declared his victim diseased in
loathsone or disgraceful manner, and
sought TO change the crime of murder into
one oi malpractice as physician and
criminal ignorance but even in this he
failed the body of his victim was ressnr-
rected, and science vindicated his character,
Now, alter this base wretch has been tried
and condemned. our criminal laws permit
.""Js'ot ""o S"io hotlihg lOI lHc pHDlIc,
but are anxious only for a professional
victory. to arrest judgement and try all
sorts of schemes, 30 that upon some frivo-
lons preiext, the wretch may have another
trial at another enormous bill OF expense TO
the people. No wonder that the people
grow reslive nnder such shameful daily
ing with their rights; no wonder that,
when they can, they ignore courts and
criminal process and execnte righteous
justice In summary manner. No
wonder that law abiding citizens
have no words OF condemnation al
such a summary administration of Justice
by the people for lhe people, IN one of
the states OF ancient Greece, n law was en-
acted, that whoever proposed any change
in the lava should make his pr0poslliOn
with halter around his neck, so that il
The proposed change was not adopi.-
ed, he should be swung up and hung.
These old fellows knew some things lie tier
than we seem 10. What good Thing it
would be for The people, If every lawyer
who tried 10 clear a criminal duly con-
demned, were made to share with him his
punishment in case lie failed in his al
Tempt ii reform in our now Infamous
criminal practice can be had by no oiher
way-let lynchings prevail and murders
by the people In The interests OF the peo-
pie grow more frequent, until we have a
revised code OF criminal practice even as
we have hong had revised code OF erimi-
inal procedure.