Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-01
FLAWS IN the Law
Which Project The eullly-Iudge sloadman
Suggests Some Amendments.


Editor Gnzcttc-rhn frequency OF the I
,imudsslon N murder IN Texas s. growing /
appalling That many uuiuulnhble homi.
cldcs are committed no candid observer |
win deny: and Tint many guilty men are |
acquitted ls equally true
Why ao mauy murdcfs1 Why 80 few !
conyicilonsg Doubtless the frsl Inquiry "a
I'm large measure answered boy The fat
which suggests the propoundiug Of iho
second n ho-e was reasonable certainty
That punishment and adequate punishment
would bc visited upon those who Stay thclr
fellow-men 10 can not be- questioned that
tho number Of hllmgs would be- greatly
reduced. Whom moro H mo- foor NJ punish.
ncnf thcre DE- nothing 10 deter the blood
thirsty and hardened yIlnm FROM artnFiW
vengeance Cor even the most trivial ghrr
nnacs by shedding human blood. Ana n
The proportion thnf danger of punishment
g. lcscncd s restrain. wclk upon those
Whose "hcarti are regardless OF s0dni duty
ami fatally bout 0n mischief"
Now. why are there so few convictions on
mrrdcrua} douot hesitate lo nnm Wat
this failure or Justice o. attributable both ip
ihe imroIfocuon NJ mo law Itself und to
the inuu iout enforcement of the law
Homicide ore good enough ANA adequate
penalties are prescribed But some uf tho
laws Regulating prnrtcc and procedure ore
radically defective
no % greater wtcui Than iu any other
cliss of liufatn H thc laws delay Zoo
homlrldc cnsoa serious publlc evil Tho
remedy iur ihH d. thc creation of criminal
courts with hHmctiW oi oll ,imIul
b.
constitution now ln force q s competent
far the Legislature 90 create such courts. Aly
idca would hc for those counts to ho always
IN SESSIONS md tho.r machinery should ho
90 arranged ubt within O. wocs or ten
days nftcr the commission of frouy the
pcrpctrtor should bee brought Go trials 90
least the ease against him should. Within
the tme Indicated, bo rnuCl Cor trIHl, nnd
II should then ho ricl mlcs either the
state or the nccusod ihould show good rcai-
on Tor not being rooly ANA upon such roaH
on boing shown there should hoe postpone.
meut n NO cuse TO r-tord two wocl,a m
exceptional cnHos thc court thuuld have The
discretion to wnut another cXtgusI0n OF
not exceeding two wvUat upon .m hoing
mndo manifest that the ends of Justice do'
mnnlod such notion
1o render tho enforcement of ho law
more certain IA these courts. the Jury law
should Zoe amended n capital cnacA
mother Hdo should ho allowed 20 know who
have honn drawn gs special jurors 90 uy
tho ease uatil tho dny of trial THEN N tbo
special yeulrc should Doe exhausted without
obtaining a jury, tho Jurors uccwsnry o
complete the panel should bo drawn hy
commissioners. These proylsloug are nbao,
luiuly essential. ua win Hppuar 10 every
one upon 70 ltla consideration. As the law
now exists, che unmea or the peraonH scl.
ectol Go soryO on "a Hpccim yvulro lru knlWn
d'ye hrfurc the trial and p0lug known,
abundant opportunity o. Afforded 60 "h1'
thpao who can be corrupted, Ana under tno
law as u now ig whom special ycnlro H
exhausted, Jurors are selected ana SUM.
named ly q deputy shur0 20 complete mo
jury This h too dupscrous puwer "a
lojgoln iho hands OF any ono man Aa tng
Rl can be done, The uoaslhiuiy OF the par
tlta Interested "nSing' Jurors nud ~ d
deputy hhoran packing d Jury FROM olthel
malice. pnwtaiiy or vcnaiity, should be ro
moved. Al cmpda VIZ not hrlho iur
ora nor are all drppty shrrna dishonest
hpl thero are unfortunately likely to %,
como bad mcu In every hpsinoH who 4
the temptation is Hroat win corrupt othcta
or themselves submit 10 be corrupted. Is,
many red handed obsawns have gone mi
vhht OF Justice that thow is suspicion
lu Cine pohlc mlud 40 Wrous as TO nmouu
20 belief Clint honest men have not OlWuy
comprised ow ,nlios' Society has too muol
ui stake not 60 employ Vyory moons prudonc
would sugscsl TO Prevent ibe corruption o
jurora
Anoteor necessary chango IN our laws !
chat no iudcmon az conviction should D
rovvrsod ny ihp appellate court unloss upo
np Inspection and consideration Of tho cr
Tire rccod DC should reasonably appear {
ihc appellate tribunal that some suhster
hal rlgh' bas been dopied thc aecuaed d
tNat he has ia Some other mail,Dr hoe
done q substantial lniuatco. believe ha
atatato emnosSinE ha idea would D.
constitutional aud IL would surely have
solninfy eject n brlpglns oleuders
speedy Justice
In Wow o. u,e wholesale 0o0nittal Of rul
derera can understand SHY miolligen
conservative men sometimes become SO ii
dlgnant AZ 20 amost favor mol law &
course, when We reflect how cruel and me-
ciloas and unreaaonipg aud cowarily au
vicious nohs are indeed how tho nreya
NA'' 'A ~" NW' NANNNHf ANr hNNNNlHlNli
social order and tho domlnopee Of ba
men, icensod tAemseTes d murder, tho &
fensetsa objects q thelr hate. We recon
horror az the thought that the moh sha
become ono OF our Institutions. Hath,
would wlse men, loving law ana order. \,
the exofesccoees a our system lnpped 4
aud inc laws % moderated ,hat m fact
wen 40 y theory lhey should D. the ineai
Of attaining HE ends ~ iuslirs ana
thereby SECURING ~ the ciilzcn iho nanole.
81 enjoyment Of No, lllsaty ana nroperiy
Tht plans 7 would adopt have Neon au,
erogeiy rseseated; INA trust mat M.
nade some snseosiloua ihqt may slia,u,a
meupefs % no ngri Legislature 10 cna
laws hvprrrnilog the noeded reforms
lhe palltpnM espruae ~ mointairli
senarale eilppenl courts shoald not ~ N
aldelyf lntle geat state os Texas with
enofmoas laxahic values 10 indlsiGoai 1,
payer popid lepl ens ncgeac Or borde
naa efriy ciilaoa would ~ bonsnttca
hSlng y commonwealth ehero us Ia,