The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-02
Chairman Rep. County commits
MIR. HASTE, suGGEs lions.
The Prosecuting Attorneys Annual
Report TO the Governor.


Prosecuting Attorney iiastie has finish
ed his report 10 Gov. Mctiraw for 1895.
The report shows that IL divorces were
granted during the year, which number
does not include the cases in which the
defense was represented by other counsel.
Among the important criminal cases are
those Of John and James Mccain. Joseph
Carter and william Carey. ali OF which
are now before the supreme court. The
total number of criminal cases were 30.
larceny cases 81. and assault and battery
cases. s.. There were also Is civil cases
In which the county was a party.
Accompanies the report were the fol-
lowing suggestions:
First recommend the repeal Of sec
ton %. chapter 81. page ia, OF the laws or
fs9S. entitled An act relating to appeals
20 the supreme court THIS law allows
the time during which prisoners are con-
fined 20 the county jaii after conviction 10
be deducted from the time stated in the
sentence. which time should he served In
the penltentsary. This legislation has cost
King county thousands OF dollars. and
has encouraged convicted persons 20 take
appeals. not only 50 the supreme court OF
the state. bat 20 the supreme court ~ the
United States
"Secona-The number % peremptory
challenges in criminal eases sheuid be the
same for both the state and tho defendant
and three each In others The peremptory
challenges on the part az the defense are
Invariably used for the purpose og Pre-
venting the best men from serving on
turles Taxing into consiierat ion that the
best business men Ia the community are
seldom summoned. q makes Il almost I'm
possible Ter That class AZ men 90 be found
On furies n Important criminal cases
Third also recommend that a general
change be made In the laws relating TO the
duties Of county commissioners. I would
suggest among other changes that sv-
nopsls o. short notsce az the proceedings
OF the county commissioners be published
within tweufy-geur hours. The failure on
the part q the officer 20 so publish such
proceedings should subject him 20 Gne and
imprisonment.
'Fomrth-That u should Re the duty OF
the prosecuting attorney upon the petit
ttaa % seven taxpayers. ne concurrinx
therein. % take "a appeal from any order
q the board OF eounfy commissioner. and
@itaout bond or cost BY the parties sp-
peAlinE. This last sugEes ton t. now the
law IN some Of our host governed Western
states
"F'iffh--The Legislature should urai, The
number. ani provide f5r the practice. by
which lawyers reprcSentinE parties charx-
"a with crime shall have puhpoenas issued
and served for witnesses ia tArfr behalf a.
the expense ~ tha state. All he attorneys
10 uader the present practice 3 To Ale
a. AFFIDAVIT stating that the following
named witnesses are essential aud aeces-
SsrF Cor Defendants defense ard make
she ,ist As larRe as tHer ser a. They fan
- show where TIRE witness resides. What
his evidence wtt SCI fwhether as 20 seed
repat1tioa nr 0tneF R}se1 and Whom thew
are called we cften ira they have not
even the T5xht names. aUt more are sub
noenand ap reputation thaa tha court vii
silaW 10 testfy or fhat enc oafns Sueh
illnesses aye a. times erouEht erara "a
; distance when theve ars others near by
10 could testify te sae Same fa-ts.
Egsea3s ~ tae aecrsst re De this ysssaf,s
re- ONLY Nnftie3 wtih sraesl-o-tatfer e-o~,
}eas DISTANCES. a. PIE rNnc-se NJ tse s,sse.
has wake 3 u - rrnae c.Et ~ abe trtti owes
auf above thvtr tNpvnseR
"&fxt%-AH mileage Fhoa,t Pc reduced
ees-tstf Nt,rezaeF scsulf ref % ai-,rr.
I rs more teaa 81 ger dag an1 t4yors oaly
E g"