The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-07-12

moral character; who is honest, up
right, intelligent, and who would rem
der an impartial verdict No man
should be convicted simply because we
think him guilty. If this were the
case, then every man would be accusing
his neighbor, and soon we would have
to build a wall around the world, or the
greater portion of it and call it prison.
At the present day, almost every man
thinks his neighbOr dishonest and if
this were sufficient to send him to pris-
on, this land would be filled with grass
widows. Where would the judges be
to try the divorce cases and who would
try the judges? A man placed on trial
for crime leaves himself open to sus-
picion of guilt, whether he is guilty or
not, therefore jury to try him should
be composed of men above suspicion;
men of undoubted character and intel
ligence. maintain this is not the case
in our country today. Let a poor fel-
low 90 to trial without money or friends
and but very little testimony, doubt or
no doubt, he is soon hid in the peniten-
tiary, but let some bank wrecker, or
great financier of whose guilt there is
no doubt; (the only doubt existing is,
whether such an institution ever ex-
listed, so completely did he gut it, and
jury will remain out forty eight hours
and then disagree. Perhaps they were
Conscientious, or perhaps they see some
of that cash; however this may be, it is
nevertheless a notorious fact, that in
this country, it is almost impossible to
get one of these fellows into the penl-
tentiary. New York state is an excep-
ton: they do land one once in while,
but it goes hard with them, as in the
case of Wiman recently convicted OF
forgery in New Y ork City; the jury in
this case eased their conscience by re-
commencing him to the mercy OF the
court. Well, he received it; five and
one half years was the sentence, which
is picnic when compared with some
men | know, who are serving twenty
wears for fifteen cents. Even the Judge
was staggered at the recommendation
for mercy. In sentencing him he says,
81 recognize your public services, (which
were, robbing his associates of thou
sands upon thousands of dollars) your
family and your church standing, but
l cannot see my way clear to give you
less than five and one half years. He
could not give him much less in New
York state under the charge-but IN
six months, or a year at best, both judge
and Jury will sign petition for his
release. Yes, and he will get it. A
Jury of sense, land this in wicked Chi
cago) finds the red handed assassin
} Prendergast guilty If the most heinous
murder perpetrate1 in this country
since the assassination of Garfield, but
Judge afflicted with "moral insanity
(which is the kind Prendergast il
| troubled with interferes, and he il
. again placed on trial. Fools want tt
; know if he has acted sensible since hi
sentence of death; they have picked VI
t twelve men in Chicago to determine
whether he has or not. They will hav'
2 hypothetical questions put to then
, until they are crazy themselves, thel
: say, Eyes, 1 guess, or think him crazy
. or, think not either way, they know
nothing about it, unless they are mel
Q of intelligence, honesty and fsarles
:. characters.
Q Let court officials perform their dut
s honestly and fearlessly. AS long a
t the law says we must be tried b.
d twelve of our peers, let us hav
d the peers, or at least equals. To m
/ mind commission Of three judges
e the best and safest way to try an
4 cause where life and liberty is at stake
S but until men who are above suspicion
Il who are fearless and honest in all tina
/ term implies compose our juries, a trla
h by jury is mockery and farce.
l. T.G.
"a Scandal breeds hatred; hatred begat