Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-29
MlCAJAH WOODS, ESQ.
Need of stenographers to Take Down
Evidence, Etc, Etc.

Need OF Stenographers To TAKE Down
Evidence, Etc, Etc.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. Oct 10Th.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch
In reply to yours of recent date ] have
to say : The present statutes OF Virginia
providing for the trial of criminals are
IN the main wise. and II consclentiously
and intelligently enforced by the officers
and the courts would insure speedy and
fair trials.
The troubles are
l. Owing to the very meagre COM
pensatton allowed to attorneys for the
Commonwealth in many counties. able
and trained lawyers Will not seek the
place. and in some instances will noc
serve. The result Is that some-yes,
many-of the prosecuting officers, while
good men, are not able to cope success
fully with the talent and learning pitted
against them in important trials. Hence
while a great crime is committed, abhor-
rent 10 the community. the people feel I'M
easy as 10 the result of regular trial,
and are inclined to take the law into
their own hands.
2 1t is a notorious fact that the
higher courts are very prone to set aside
verdlcts of the county courts on appeals
in cases of Importance
DELAY ON APPEALS.
In fact, IL the accused is able to en-
ploy able counsel. he can in nearly every
case safely expect to have his case sus-
pended for months or even longer-some-
times year or more by urging an ap-
peal-and too often the appeal results I'm
reversal of the judgment of the lower
court on a mere technically, or because
the appellate judge on recalling the evil
danpa lxash lob IL naarly alxNaVg Numerically
certified under the management of the
counsel for defence, who generally write
up the exceptions and evidence for the
lower judges APPROVAL reaches a conclu-
sion different from the jury and the trial
Judge who have heard the evidence, seen
the witnesses. and heard the argument.
AMENDMENTS NEEDED.
A knowledge Of the fact that trial
OF an important case in the lower court
and a verdict Is not likely to be conclu-
sive-that great delays and sometimes
subversions OF the ends OF justice in the
higher courts always nearly follow. b.
gets among the people contempt for the
criminal administration and incltes them
TO lynch law and all its horrible conccmi-
tants.
The remedies are
/. The enactment of q law forbid
ding an appellate judge 10 set aside any
verdict In a criminal case on account Of
any technical irregularity In the pleadings
or in the rulings of the trial judge, If
on inspection OF the whole case he finds
that substantial justice has been done
?. The enactment OF a law forbidding an
appellate Judge TO set aside any verdict
on the ground that the verdict Is contrary
TO the evidence. unless he Is satisfied that
gross injustice has been done and that
the verdict In plainly contrary to the
evidence.
AS j said before. the evidence is nearly
always gotten up by counsel for the de-
fence. They are naturally prone 10 ig-
more or tone down the evidence for the
prosecution on vital points. TO correct
their version of the evidence frequently
involves great labor on the Common
wealth's attorney, and acrimonious dis
putes. often resulting, in tenpering the
record favorab,y for the accused. This Is
nearly alFp1v: - rt9 reg en,rlla -
cos; ~ lsac, for