The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-07-05

Judges; because no man, be he eve
so good a citizen, can tell when h
will be a party to, at least, civil actor
in court of justice; and when tina
time comes he desires upon the bencl
a trial Judge in whom he has the ut
most confidence, one who will hole
the scales with a steady and even hant
and meet out equal and exact justice
between him and his adversary. An(
the same good citizen is intesested in the
administration of the criminal law anC
the proper punishment of its violators
to the end that he and his family may
be made to feel safer in their home
and the security of their property.
An eminent English jurist once
said that it was not the severity O
the punishment but the certainty Of i
that was most beneficial, but l an
|
not prepared to subscribe to thi:
doctrine, for | entertain the belief thai
nothing conduces more to encourage
the the commission of crime than @
failure to vigorously prosecute, and
and when convicted, adequately punish
those who violate laws, especially the
graver offenses known as felonies
Administer to such, heroic treatment
and impress upon them the truth Of
that trite saying that "The way of the
transgressor is hard"
1t leaves upon the mind of the
party punished such an indelible and
lasting impression, as is we'll calculat-
ed induce better life.
To his fellows in wicked walks, it is
stern and certain reminder that their
infraction of the law, will bring upon
them the like heavy hand of Justice,
and they will be disposed to be better
citizens.
There are cases, of course, where the
offense is mere technical one, and it
is the party's first appearance as de-
fendant in criminal cause; under
such circumstances the court, in i'm
posing the penalty, should temper it
with mercy, admonishing the accused
not to again appear before him in that
relation.
The great Grecian philosopher
more than two thousand years ago,
laid down as requisites for good
judge, the following cardinal prin-
ciples: s'He should listen with court
esy, answer wisely, consider solemnly
and decide impartialy." During the
four years and a half that have been
on the bench l have endeavored to OBJ
serve these injunctions, and although,
through the frailty of human nature,
| doubtless fell far short of such
eminent, qualities, l have not been
unmindful of their great Importance. l
am aware of the fact that the prepar-
alton of a case by counsel is with the
intention and expectation of fully pre-
senting the same on the trial, and if
that opportunity is not afforded him,
he at least feels disappointed and
probably dissatisfied, and both he
and his client are liable to complain
that they were not fairly treated. This
is especially so with the litigant where
the matter is being argued to the
court, and the attorney is improperly
limited, for the reason that frequent
ly litigants, especially those unfamiliar
with court proceedings, are thorough
ly convinced that there is great
efficacy in the speeches of their law
yers, and being abridged in that priv
ilege and losing the case, leave the
room with very poor opinion the
trial Judge, complain of him to their
neighbors and they in turn discuss it
with Others and thus it premeates the
community causing distrust in the
minds Of the people, as to the fairness
and justness of the Judge, and when
such distrust obtains, the usefulness
and efficiency of that tribunal is in a
measure impaired. 1t is therefore i'm
portant that the trial Judge should
afford to lawyer and litigant the full
est possible opportunity consistent
with the administration of justice to
so present their cases that even
the defeated party may feel that he
has been fully heard and fairly treat
ed.
confess fondness for the infatua-
ion of the political arena, and have an
abiding faith in the principles of the
Democratic party, but traditionary
law has decreed that candidates for
Judicial positions should not engage
in heated political discussions, but
hold themselves alcof from such con-
tentions, to the end that their equi-
pois may not be disturbed.
l recognize the wisdom of this
time honored custom, and must there
fore refrain from further adverting to
this subject.
Gentlemen, l shall not detain you
longer,
Again ! thank you most sincerely
for this denomination, and here in
this court room dedicated TO the