The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1896-07-15
SPECTACULAR JUSTICE.

SPECTACULAR JUSTICE.
Comparison Between French and English
Courtroo,ns.
M Cruppi, the procurator' sub
stitute, in a paper on French assize
court trials, uses the Old Bailey as q
foil to set off the assize court of the
Seine. A sensational criminal draws
to the palais de justice brilliant
crowd, who come to be stirred and
amused, as at playhouse. They ex-
peot alterations of weeping, laugh
ing and blood ourdling horrors. At
the Old Bailey there Is nothing spec
taoular. The court is a dark, dingy
hole, to which narrow stairs and
passages lead. Justice is public, but
the public were not thought of by
the architect. But the press Is there,
and it's presence constitutes public
ity. This hall Of Justice is not as
spacious as the least largo Of the
correctional courts Of Paris. 1t Is
meant for business merely. The one
place where there is elbow room is
the dock. The prisoner can move
about there, stand up, sit down,
come and go. Soldiers do not guard
him. A warder sits in a little corner
pew and looks moro like q scribe
than a jailor. One soon sees that the
prisoner is q sacred and intangible
being. He dicusses from his notes
In tho tone Of a creditor claiming a
debt, and he may woll do SO, for the
proof of his alleged crime is due to
him. A table is in the lowest part Of
the dark, dingy holo. Damned
around it are counsel for and
against. They are close to the jury.
Theatrical effects would be out of
place hero. The air is thick with the
all pervading London fog. Nobody
gesticulates. No face lights up or
shows any sort of animation. There
Is no rustic of elegant toilets.
M. Cruppi points out that the
English judge is witness Of what
witnesses say and arbitrator, but
never accuses. He respects every
right of tho accused, and, if need be,
makes others do SO too. Should he
be nervous and cross the counsel for
the crown will bo made to feel IN
pleasantly his temper. English bar
risters argue rather than plead.
They are SO close to the jury that II
a barrister in q vehement gesture
thrust forth his arm he might KNOCK
over juror. The thing is to show {
proof or establish q point Of law
and not to produce an effect. The
Old Bailey jurors seem bettor suited
for their work than those Of the pal
oin do j,.etioo. ElAolI 4Iloouloa4, vu'
accused and to witnesses are clea
and to the point. One often wonders
at their quiokness after tho judge
sums up at agreeing on q verdict
Every juror seems absolutely conf
dent in the wisdom and fairness o1
the judge. He is tho shoot anchor
Witnesses may have contradictel
themselves and each othor, counse
may have puzzled them, the prison
er's counsel may have proved black
white, and the attorney genera
strained many points, but the Judge
is to declare what is true and fair
He noodles with nobody, but keeps
on taking notes until he has to sum
up. A juror fcels his conscience may
be at rest if he follow tho Judge ir
doubling a witness Or doubling the
whole case of the accused. M. Crup
pi further says that it is we'll to un
derstand England, but dangerous tc
initiate her, because all her institu.
tions are OF secular growth and raoy
OF the soil. None of her institutions
Is moro worthy of study than tria:
by jury, which France has had TO,
100 years, but without tho English
judge.-Paris Letter.