The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-17

saltwater Minn, Wednesday, Got. IL, 1888.
TO bring the matter nearer home l would

To bring the matter nearer home l would
call your attention to the cases of some of
those old men before alluded to. There
are two in particular, one seventy and the
other SiXty-twO years OF age. Their ap-
pearance as you watch their palSied step
fully verifies their extreme age. Neverthe
less they are here suffering for an act.
which. according to our written law, is
constituted crime only when proof is forth
coming to show that considerable muscular
power was used At this juncture it ap-
pears to me that each of these cases is a
strange parody on our laws. Admitting
even that mentally they were depraved
enough to commit such an offence. there is
room for the thinking ones to find consider
able doubt as to their possibility of SO doing.
The question naturally arises: Why could
this not be seen before or during the
trial? There are several answers to this,
the most important of which is found in the
mode of selecting jurors. Two OF the queS-
tiOnS usually put to juror are: Did you read
about the case? Have you formed any
opinions regarding it? If trial by jury has
come to stay it would be wholesome idea
to find men who could honestly answer each
of these questions in the negative. That is.
bilious reporters and Scandal-mOngering
newspapers. TO find such men. in this ad-
vanced age, it is Necessary to pick out those
who sign their names with two transverse
lines, and whose proper character would be
indicated by low, receding forehead and
eXpreSSiOnleSS vSage.
once heard discussion between man
presumably of this latter species) who had
just served on criminal case. and an ac-
Quaintance, who was opposed to the verdict
the former had taken part in rendering.
The dO-juryman upon being asked
what he considered the duty of juror as
founded his listeners by answering. 'TO
convict if possible" Upon being reminded
OF his oath he. in a lengthy harangue, COM
pared himself to the prosecuting attorney.
who, to use his own words. WAS elected
to see justice done. and always works hard
to convict those brought before him." His
idea of the law grasped only the one fact;
that whoever is charged with crime must
necessarily be guilty thereof. If this.i the
timber required to form twelve good men
and true" would it not be feasible to retain
the hOrdeS of vermin-infeSted pauperS that
annually arrive on our shores instead of re-
tnrning them, as is usual where such abili-
ties are not appreciated-feed them well
and disseminate them through the
land for the noble object of seeing Justice
fairly meted out to alps If this project is
too costly the only alternative Is to throw
open the doors of our lunatic asylums.
Another reason for strange decisions is
caused by the manner in which the public
plnmage is ruff1ed after reading eXaggerat-
ed and grOundleSS accounts of certain
crimes They may doubt reports of pOliti-
cal or current events, but every word that
detractS from the character of fellow
being is devoured with ghOulisl gIuttony,
and dished up cold for their friends with
garniShingS and embellishments. 1t matters
not what high social position he formerly
held. Character availS him naught once he
falls into the hands of our respectable
police gazettes. Public sentiment is very
essential to the general welfare of society.
but it should not be cOnfOunded with pub
lie sentimentality." The former is governed
by reason; the latter dethrOneS that func-
tiOn and leaves the faculties about as keen
as those of the much maligned burrO. l
would therefore suggest. in simple justice
to all concerned, that our newspapers with
hold their wrath until they are fully iuSti-
fed in turning it loose. 1t would be good
policy for donation parties and base ball
phlanthrOpiSts to refrigerate their warmth
of feeling until fully assured that the subject
of their generosity is deserving one. Else,
by strange invertion of natural law, they
will find the supply ruined by the demand.
1t will not take great while for ladies who
long since bid their character farewell to see
in this state field we'll adapted to their
operations which requires for a capital that
of which they have already surfeit; hypOc-
risy, callOused conscience and a fund of
genuine crocodile tears.