Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-28
THE COURT AND rnE MURDERER.


Texas Farm and Ranch: Nearly
three years ago l.. u. williams OF Dali
las murdered mis- WIFE threw the body
out OF a second story window and bur
led II in shallow hole among the
weeds in the back yard Williams was
tried and convicted 0t murder In the
FIRST degree and the death penalty as
sessed An appeal was taken and the
Court or Criminal Appeals has Just
handed down Its decision reversing the
Judgment OF the lower court and re-
handing the case for a new trial The
following extract from tho opinion of
the court viii explain the grounds for
the reversal:
"Thore IL but one question presented
In the record OF this case which re-
qulres consideration from US. 1t APP
pears from the bill of exceptions that
after the evidence FOR the state and
the appellant had been introduced and
after arguments OF the diatrict nttur-
ncy ana appellants counsel had been
closed ana the Judge had read hls
charge to the Jury tue court permitted
the case 10 be rcopencd and allowed
evidence 10 be introduced by the state
TO prove TINT the name of the alleged
murdered per -. n was Lou Williams
as charged In tho Indictment. and that
thereafter the court allowed the state
and appellant fifteen minutes each for
argument befoto the Jury ON the new
liant objected TO thia and saved his
bill OF exceptions"
In this decision Mother the guilt nor
Innocence OF the defendant, nor the
Justice and fairness of the trial were
considered. II IN not claimed that the
technical error OF the trial court could
by any possibility have preJudiccd the
defendants cause. II ~ not claimed
that aside from this error complete
case of deliberate murder was not fully
mnde out. But the Judge permitted the
prosecuting attorney to prove the name
OF the murdered wife after the case had
been closed. and therefore the verdict
| OF the jury and the Judgment OF the
court must be reversed and the case
remanded, This extract and the COM
ments are published for the purpose OF
showing those who have hoen Inform
ed that our laws are n terror to evil
doors" that they have probably been
misinformed,
McNIa Mail, The Fort Worth Gazette
| mates the startling statement that the
higher court really encourages crime
by hunting UP tcchniCnllties In the law
| ana making them proteXts for the re-
lense OF murderors. 1t has long been
apparent that too much law defeats tho
| ends OF Justice The question OF guilt
| or innocence should never be suhordn-
atod to quibhlea over court procedure
promptncss and certainty constitute
the protection OF law and when these
Gre impaired the law falls into disre-
putc, The right OF appeal Is a Just
privilege II the higher court realizes
tho limitations Imposed by reason and
Its duty 20 society, After all courts OF
! appeal are hardly worse than many
juries Tho uncertainty OF n jury's
verdict Is proverbial, and TO be effective
q reform should begin In the Jury room
and pass clear through the judicial
I kNftpn of Tho state. A NprAiaf chnpll
be rendered by q majority OF the Jur-
ors; the ground for appeal should be
more strictly clrcumseribed, and the
tedious delnys In tho execution OF the
law should be suppressed.
A murderer now has one opportunity
= escape before conviction and sew
erll opportunities afterward,
To remedy this state of affairs some
sweeping radical changes are necessary
In the criminal laws. and II VIII take
great pressure and agitation 10 call tho
legislature TO sense OF Its duty. How
ever. nothing was ever accomplished
without effort, aud the game Is GER
tainly worth the candle.
corsicana Democrat: The criminal
Is shown the kindness that should
have been bestowed on his victim, The
present dsllying In courts, such as con
tlnuances for the purpose OF waiting
for some important witness to die or
leave the country is conducive OF re-
spoct to the criminal bestowed by the
courts.
Henrietta Independent: Some OF the
daily press are laying much OF preva-
lent lawlessness at the door OF the
Court OF crimina, Appeals. Possibly
they are right but another large slice
q due 20 tho fact that honest people
4 do not make any effort to atop It,