Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-07-11
Trial by Newspapers Better than Trial
by Trickcry.

Trial by Newspapers Better Than Trial
by Trickery.
Quite Il discussion has recently
sprung up as to the right Il ncwspa-
per has TO take part in criminal tri-
ais. Some of the editors believe
that it is their privilege to express
opinions in their papers, declaring
their innocence or guilt of an ac-
cused man before he comes to trial.
Others believe that when crime
has been committed and trial is
pending that the proper and pccu-
liar province of thc public journal is
to give the naked facts without par
tiality. This latter plan seems to be
the correct one, especially for papers
circulated in the county where the
trial is to take place. The jury TO
be selected has access to few papers.
They look upon opinions in print us
more than the individual opinion of
the editor With them it is popular
sentiment, for they believe that the
editor, having = wide intercourse
with men, catches the popular OPT
Mon and cryStalizcs it in his cditori-
ais. Without Knowing it, the pub
lie mind abSorbs the opinions of the
editor and believes them to be their
own. When the people are called
to SIT upon the jury they come to-
gclhcr with more than the bare facts
in the case. They come with their
minds made up and are hardly con-
scious of il. We believe the news
paper, before a trial, should give no
thing but Il plain statement of Il
ease, leaning neither to the one side
nor the other. After the trial the
editor has a right to criticisc Jurors,
lawyers and the Judge himself. Per-
haps if that work was done fairly,
fcarlcssly and with spirit Of kind
ness, the effect would be better than
trying a case beforehand. There
are some other practices in criminal
trials as unfair in method and much
worse in results than trial by news
papers. 1t is trial by trickcry. a
man is charged with murder. lie
can command money to fec his law
yers well. They begin to prepare
for the fight and their sole object is
to clear their man, whether h, is
guilty or innocent. Truth and JUS
ticc are laid aside. In many eases
in the past twenty years, it is said
that jury lists have been stuffed in
order to get some men that can be
depended on. When the panel is
drawn the attorneys begin to study
The character of these jurors in Il
wonderful way. Long before the
Court convcncs they have Ger
tain men selected, not with view of
absolute justice, but for the purpose
Of clearing their client. II he is
guilty, a just verdict, founded on the
facts of the case, is the last thing
they want. All ideas Of Justice and
truth are ovcrShadowrd by the de-
minant desire to get a verdict free
OF acqnittal, and they will send him
forth TO the world again, an inno-
cent man, although he was covered
with guilt They always look upon
Il mlStrlal as a victory. They feel
sure that a release on bond and
little soItrning Of public sentiment
will insure the desired verdict at the
next term. Motions for Il new trial,
appeals to the Supreme Conrt, are
all rcSorcd to, not 10 get at the
truth, but Just to clear the accused.
When lawyers, by trickcry and re-
sorting TO all delays possible and
taking advantage Of every tcchni-
rality, clear a guilty man, they do
worse thing than trial by ncwspa-
pcrs. They degrade the functions Of
Il Court which should be honorcd by
the people as the temple Of Justice.
The witness who swcars falsely, or
the juror who is bought or Influenced
by other considerations than truth,