Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-21

Orr Criminal Court.

Lancaster city Is this week being del
suged with all the filth and mire of a
! quarter sessions court. Negroes from
the Welsh Mountain and roughs from
Il Columbia crowd about our beautiful
A0dlence room and corridors is like
tupof from the under regions. Almost
Nvefy grade Of crime except the highest
i y represented. Barbary Coast has lost
It's attraction for respectable people,
\ Md petty criminals and their witnesses
eeface the steps and enclosure Of the
4 temple ofjustice with peanut shells and
5bacco juice. Judge, clerks and law
yeB put on their old clothes and with
the leaves of palms fan away the fumes
that arise from the conglomerste mass of
corruption and filth.
There was time in Lancaster county
q when lawyer honored himself as he
honored the judicial presence by attain
8 ing reputation in the criminal courts.
There was time when the eloquence Of
learned counsel reverberated within the
sacred walls while pleading for the life
i and liberty Of clients. The criminal
calendar contains for trial this week
over $50 eases-the largest list since
1876. Can it be possible that the fair
name and fame of our law w-abiding
county contains within its limits such a
host of criminals? II this be so one may
we'll fear for the life of our honored
sons, and the virtue Of our fair daughters
rs imperilled.
We do not believe the records honestly
show the condition of our social life.
Undoubtedly one-half the cases that are
this week down for trial and for which
the district attorney has dra sn and pre-
eented indictments do not belong to the
4 quarter sessions court and under a fair
distribution Of justice ought not TO be al
lowed to take up the time and attention
of the court II Is a well-known fact
that the negro population of the Welsh
4 Mountains look forward tothis week of
court as a holiday, for which they are
well paid. Bya strange coincidence the
whole population of that famous noun
tain seem to be witnesses of every petty
breach Of the peace. Offenders and wit
for grand jubilee.
How can this disreputable condition
of affairs be changed? Instead Of alder
men and justices of the peace acting as a
wholesome check upon the indiscrimi-
nate bringing of petty complaints they
seem to encourage it. Witnesses are
subpHnaed without number and with
out conscience, and the county treasury
IL drained to pay their fees. The Judge
Aels he
In regard to the imposing of costs upon
prosecutors In trivial cases, yet the flood
seems not to be stemmed. Grand iuries
examine witness or two in perfume
tory manner and the cases come on for
trial. In many instances verdicts of not
3 guilty and the county for costs are rem
dered and the prosecutor, defendant and
witnesses have had a weeks holiday that
Z cost them nothing. On the other hant
the public good is not conserved, tn,
social atmosphere is not purified and
public peace is not secured.
ssrt II Is about time this matter be in,
duired into. Is our whole system OF
criminal trials and punishment AT
muit; or are the officers of the law largely
s to blame? Are not the majority of the
petty cases which are being tried di.
rectly or indirectly brought to court 10y
Justices and constables and their agents
for the purpose of making fees and costs?
IL this be so, then it Is stain on our
county that ought to be wiped away.
Judges, juries, court officials and law.
yers owe it TO themselves as well As tc
the good name of our county and people
to make "a rigid inquiry into this matter.
we do not believe, rs il appears, that the
trial list of the quarter sessions court OF
this week il fair indication Of the life
and social purity of our good people and
county.