The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-10-05
NUMBER 33.
oy TIE WING.
For the DemOcrat-Star.

| For the Democrat-Star
Governor Stone had seen the mis-
carriage Of justice so often by the
delays in postponing the trial OF GRIM
inal cases that he recommended to the
Legislature the passage of a law ap-
pointing an tlnerant judge to 60 to
the county where homicide was COM
.mitted and begin a court for the trial
OF the slayer, thereby giving the
accused a speedy trial, as well as to
have the matter freely investigated,
while the facts were fresh in the minds
of the witnesses; but that honorable
body utterly refused to do anything OK
the sort.
The evil could be easily remcdied,
but in another way. II there were
more judicial districts, and the law
required four. instead of two, cOurtsa u
year, it would meet the case exactly.
1t is objected that the labors OF the
Judges were decreased thereby, why
decrease their salaries. But 1t
would not, but would increase their
travel and expenses, a' they would
have to visit each county every three
months.
While on the subject Of courts, 1t Is
not amiss to say that our present
judicial system is not what 1t ought
to be. 1t should 5e upset and re-mod-
clcd. Instead of Chancery Court
there should be a Probate Court, pre-
sided over by probate judge, to be
appointed by the Governor, and that
court should have exclusive juriSdic-
tion over estates, orphans business,
=. as under the constitution Of 1892. The
probate judge should also be Judge OF
the county court, which should have
Jurisdiction over all misdemean0rs
\ committed in the county and civil
p jurisdiction over all cases OF less than
D $500. The court could sit as often as
$ necessary in each county, to be regu-
: lated by the Legislature. An attor-
S hey to be appointed by the Judge
y whose only compensation should be
d his fees. No grand jury to find bills,
l. but all prosecutions to be by inf0rma-
It ton of the attorney.
is Abolish the Office of Justice OF the
e Peace, and haye every misdemeanor
i case tried at the court house in the
ID county court. Give the circuit court
a. exclusive jurisdiction of all actions OF
ID ejectment and felony cases, and make
TO the Judge chancellor to try all equity
X. cases, as before the war.
p This system would be far better
Is than the present one, and more salts
factory to the poor widows and or
phans of each county, for the judg'
#, would be in touch with his people ant
=. =. all business would be looked after.
=, How many estates In the chancer!
:, court have you known to be tinall.
., settled?
.o l heard this question frequentl!
:. asked and the answer was mo
- many" 1t does seem almost out o
- the question to wind up an estate a
- - soon now as under the old probat
/. system. AS it is, widows and orphan
h who are not able to employ counse
~ are often cleft out in the cold, thong
not the fault of the chancellor, but G
I the system. Under the old systeI
! the Judge was always accessible to TIL
!, people of his county, and no interes
7 was neglected or overlooked.
n. find many who favor the abov
N change. Indeed, many favor upset
ID ting the present constitution an
10 having a better one.
:, TRAVELLER.
Sentember %. 1894.