Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-07-06
Increase of Crime.

We have had startling increase in
crime of every description in the United
States since the civil war closed. The
census reports show that in 1850 the
proportion of criminals was one in
$500 OF the population of the country,
and that in 1890 the proportion was
one in 7S6 or an increase of 445 percent;
while the population increased but 10
percent. in the same forty years. Most
certainly these statistics are of grave
import and they naturally start the
question as to whether or not any rem
edy can be discovered and applied At
the present time the daily Journals are
completely flied with criminal para
graphs and columns. General demon
alization, trickery, wholesale boodleism
and deep dyed crime in one form or
another appears to have taken deep
root and gained strong hold in every
section OF our county, but in the great
est degree in our larger cities and towns.
While we have churches, schools, both
religious and common, aud probably
the best commercial laws in existence,
we are still piling crime upon crime at
a most alarming rate Of increase. Rob
berry and if need be, murder of express
messengers and passengers on railway
trans while travelling about the country
and in thickly settled districts, have
come to be OF almost daily occurrence,
and the train robbers seem TO succeed
admirably in keeping out of the clutches
of the law and even when captured TO
escape with the most insufficient pun
ishments. Bank robbery during kusl-
ness hours, in broad day is form of
bold crime, and individuals ale knocked
down and robbed in business streets al
most as frequently at high noon rs af.
ter dark; sneak thieves and daylight
burglars compel citizens to keep doors
and windows securely bolted while safe
breaking and pocket picking have prac-
tically become fine arts in the field of
crime. Defalcations among bank Off
GERS and other officials placed in charge
of important public and private trusts
are so common as to attract but pass
ing notice. Murders, some of the them
the most fendish in their character, are
of daily occurrence and no longer send
a chill of horror through the reader, in
fact it has come forcibly to notice that
cold blooded murderer is almost ab.
solutely certain to 60 UNPUBLISHED if he
have only wealth and social position to
back him in the courts. Too often it
appears that trial by jury in our civil
courts is hardly better than farce
where wealth and large interests are
involved, and thoughtful people are be
ginning to seriously doubt the infallibil-
ity of twelve competent men who sre
solemnly sworn to do a solemn duty.
earnestly demanded by stern justice
and the welfare of the country. Under
our present laws the jury must agree
as unit or no CONVICTION takes place,
and thoroughly competent men are
anxious to escape jury service. and
criminals and criminal lawyers seem to
be equally anxious to have them omit
ed from the jury panel. This leads to
the employment of professional
Jurors. who are always ready for q Job,
and who really care but little for jus
tice or equity so long as they get pay
for their time. They are always COM
petent A city jury in murder trial
has frequently more or less of this pro.
fessional' timber in its panel and
among them II Is not always difficult to
lind one or moro, who fer healthy
consideration, viii vote for an acquittal
for defendant One trial ii al import
ant murder case resulting in s "hung
Jury" even if but one member hangs.