The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-29
THE END OF THE COFFIN TRIAL.

testimony presented. 1t refrained in this.
it is due to the court and the parties in
interest that the trial or anything that
may influence the decision should be con-
fined to those who are trying the cause in
the court where all the evidence is pre-
sented. Moreover. in a certain sense. the
newspaper reflects popular sentiment. and
such sentiment, expressed where jurors can
become aware of it, may have a tendency
to influence the Judgment of the most in
telligent and conscientious juror. Now
that the trial is over and the verdict has
been given. 1t is proper that the Journal
should express its opinion regarding the
trial and the verdict.
From the first, the trial has been a lead
ing topic for public discussion. While the
testimony has been of a character not to
attract crowds of spectators. it has been
read by a large part of the community.
Those who have carefully read it would
have been surprised If the verdict had been
OthNA "AoC IMAM IL % IL II pfOPci liz iiSHt
/ to say now that the evidence sustained the
general sentiment of the community be-
fore the trial. In the public estimation the
trial was conducted in a manner which in
spires confidence in judicial proceedings.
Judge Baker presided with judicial dignity.
the jury was made up Of men of char
acter and intelligence, the government was
represented by able and jealous lawyers,
while the defense could not have secured
men who could have more ably presented
their case. The result of a long trial, I'M
der such conditions, has not only met the
public expectation. but has furthered the
ends of justice. There can be no doubt in
the mind of any candid and intelligent per-
son who has read the testimony that the
defendants. particularly the Collins, were
guilty of the crimes charged in the indict-
ment. OF the three. Reed is by far the least
guilty.
Not the least of the good effects of such
a trial and conviction is that 1t tends to
strengthen popular opinion in the workings
of our judicial system under normal con-
ditions. 1t dispels the oft-heard declaration
of cynics to the effect that there is no law
in this country for those who have the in
| fuence which wealth can bring. The re-
suit proves that. with a high-minded,
learned and dignified judge. a carefully Sc
lected jury and a trial conducted in strict
conformity to judicial procedure. a salts
factory verdict is almost inevitable. When
justice, or, rather, the courts miscarry is
when the judge is without full appreciation
of the great responsibility resting upon
him or plays the demagogue and permits
his court to be more like a street-corner
meeting than a dignified tribunal. and
where jurors are selected mainly for their
ignorance and local prejudice. The ju-
dicial system of the country is sound, and
1t will not fail If those who make judges
see that only able and high-minded men
are selected.
The defendants have been found guilty
by a jury of a most serious crime. In the
opinion of the public they are guilty tech
nichally and morally. So curiously consti-
tuted is the human mind, however, that the
men concerned. have probably never looked
upon themselves as guilty OF a moral Of
Tense. 1t is safe to assume that never at
any time hav they had the feeling that a
thief of honest antecedents has when he
first steals money from a drawer. The
thief knows he is a thief; he may salve
his conscience with a promise to return
the property in the indefinite future, but
he has no decisions about the nature of
his offense. With the embezzler, the spec
ulator. the man who handles money not
his own in a way to risk its safety, the
feeling of guilt is presumably absent to a
great extent, at least while the transactions
are going on. He juggles with his con-
science and bamboozles his own intelligence
to such an extent that he hides the char
acter Of his acts from himself to a certain
| extent. He intends to make everything
| right, and if he had been left alone, or if
| certain unfortunate and unexpected circum-
stances had not transpired, all would have
been well. He so convinces himself Of his
own uprightness that a charge of fraud
comes TO him as a shock and an insult,
and the penalty of his crime is a thing he
is utterly unprepared for. Nevertheless it
is quite as important for the good of so
ciety that the self-deceiving offender should
be punished as well as the thief who steals
with his eyes open to all conditions. The
one may be a good citizen In every other
respect, but he is even more dangerous to
the community than the more reckless
criminal, for his confidence in himself be-
| gets confidence in others to their undoing.
A degree of pity can be measured out to
men of this class. but pity need not stand
in the way of justice, and justice calls
for a penalty stern and severe. They
blindfolded their eyes. perhaps, but they
did it willfully, and must suffer the conse-
quences.
THE REGULATION OF COAL MINING.
= a. o~,~- - N faxx- uvaalg ~