The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-11-30
IMMUNITY FOR HOMICIDE.

IMMUNITY FOR HOMICIDE.
1t is most delicate matter for
newspapers to criticise the verdict OF
juries, for the very good reason that
they may not know the nature OF the
evidence produced. Editors may be
informed of the facts from eYe-wlt
nesses, but these may be given differ
emily before the jury. 1t is the prov
iuce of a >urnal to uphold the morals
of the community; but before adverse
criticism is made careful examination
should be made that nothing is stated
incorrectly and unjustlY. Because OF
this, the TINES MoUNTAINEER has been
wary in criticising a verdict ad-
versely, although in many instances
the editor believed that crime has
gene unpunished. There are faults in
our jury system, faults in the manner
of receiving testimony, and other faults
which may admit of possible remedy,
although no apparent one is discerni-
ble at present. In time something
may be done-and the people will well
come any change which will deter
vicious men from taking human life,
for those who commit lesser crimes
have suffered as severe punishment.
During the last few years men have
been shot and killed like brutes,
pounded to death with stones and
butchered with pocket-knife on the
public streets in open dayligh ght. and we
are sorry to say the greatest crime
Wasco county jury has ever found
against a criminal during this time
has been manslaughter, and the longest
term in the peniten.iary to which
criminal has been sentenced, 10 years.
There have been several persons who.
apparently, have committed felonious
homicide and been acquitted, and
very many who were guilty of larceny
are now serving their sentences in the
penitentiary. From these facts it ap.
pears that property is safer in this
county than human life. This is q
deplorahle state of affairs, and there is
something wrong somewhere. The de-
cision in the I. Oregon-Goodall VS..
the State-says it is only necessary
for the person to Jslieve he is in inmi-
nent danger ef great bodily harm for
him to be justified in killing his assail-
ant before an actual assault has been
committed. This is wrong. 1t is
placing too cheap a value on the lives
of citizens, for the "great bodily harm
may happen at any time during ex-
element, and the best people may be
made food for powder and bullet on
the slightest provocation. We hope
our supreme court will reverse this
decisson. and give US more protection
for life. A few weeks ago harmless,
though loquac:ous, boy was stabbed to
death In open daylight near this office
by an infuriated quarter-breed negro.
We were surprised when the grand
Jury Indicted the or nina foc murder
III the sec md degree, ,ani more surprised
when very intelligent jury brought
in verdict of manslaughter, with a
to the mercy of the
court. The testimony was such, we
have been informed, as to warrant
such verdict, and we are greatly sur
prised that from the facts we heard
that such evidence could have been
given. But then witnesses are IN dlf-
ferent moods when they relate an oc-
: irrence to newspaper man than when
they tell it before court and jury,
and the one may appear cruel, ielo-
NOUS homicide, subject to the severest
. snalty of the law and the ether mere
matter of natural self defense Per-
1aps this is the reason that there is so
much disappointment manifested by
.he people ab1ut these murder trials.
1t may be fact that circumstances as {
viewed in open daylight are different
ind more criminal than when seen in
he shadow of a court house. At
east, from the numerous acauittals
and verdlcts Of manslaughter i'll this i
county, when men have been killed
With premeditated malice, it would {
appear SO. This may be for the bene-
it OF the lawyer and client, but it has
and blighting effect upon 6
he community. Ii teaches that the I
rutes, in human shape, Of this world ,
nay take their levenge upon innocent .
people for the least trumped-up
and go scot-free before
he law. The effect Of these light YER i
licts is to grant an immunity to mur- {
lerers and human butchers, and force ,
men who believe in peace aud moral {
ty, to Land together for their own G
protection. There is no use in dis {
,uising the fact that this excuse of {
,rimes only emphasizes the necessity 7
If some method being adopted by ]
shich society is properly protected, a
md human life is safe from the on 9
laughts of towards and ullies. L
Mr.. Henry M. Stanley, who has
een immured in the woods Of Africa
or long time, has again become
nown to the aorld. This celebrated