The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-02-08
A Plain Fact,

So far as is known at present the
most important subject in relation to
dollars and cents that will come up
before the next general assembly will
be the matter of the criminal costs
The Tribune has had considerable to
say on this subject of late years, and
indeed IT affords field of wide spec
ulatlon. The legislature of 1897 will
be compelled to appropriate about
100000 for criminal costs, and
under the present laws it is doubtful if
this sum will meet all the demands.
The state never had a more careful
auditor than Hon. James NJ. Seibert,
and yet last year he was compelled 10
allow claims of more than $3.50, 200
for criminal costs.
There is no use to mince words about
criminal costs. People gifted with
common sense are able to loca tie
errors of the law. The practice of law
has changed greatly in this stale within
the last twenty five years. The main
practice now depends upon defending
criminals and prosecuting damage suiis.
Equity cases are rare and quickly
adjusted; so there is little practice of
this kirs,. The main ambition of every
yonI disciple of blackstone is to
become noted as n great criminal
lawyer, and save murderers and thieves
from meeting The penalty the law i'm
poses upon them. Damage suits do not
cost the public anything, but 1t is quite
different with criminal prosecutions.
In this latter class of cases, all the
costs incurred by the prosecution must
be paid by the public-the ax-parers.
Matters have now come 10 such a
pass that the entire revenue of the
state is threatened from the item of
criminal costs alone. This brings the
question right home 10 every man who
is tax-paying citizen of the state. If
the people of Missouri want to maintain
system of laws under which every
Icriminal vita any. means At his COM
mand ena defy justice indeiinitely. and
! Sa.sx, 5p,.sss.r '.s,s'a ssue bonds a ryssy
trial judge are nianaeled, and The Grim.
inai elects his own time about being
tried, then the present laws shonld be
continued. Ifthe taxpayers of Missouri
happen to think. that $500 900 year
for the next two years is large sum of
public money to be expended to aid
lawyers in establishing reputation
and criminals in escaping justice, then
they had better elect men to the legis-
lature who will enact different laws.
With probably two exceptions, the
trial courts of this state are presided
over by able and conscientious men.
Under no consideration would they
permit person to be wrongfully con-
victed, and yet these men, learned in
law and just, amount to little more
than so many machines in the trial of
criminal cases. The lawyers who
defend the criminals have the right-of-
way, and they never fail to use it. No
matter how well the guilt of criminal
may be established, the trial judge q
forced to practically abide the pleas'isf
of the criminal about going to trial
1t appears that the people Of Missouri
have paid quite enough tribntA q the
practice of criminal law, and lil would
be quite as we'll in the future - ALLOW
lawyers to depend upon lhoir oratoiical
powers and their learning 70 win a
name and fame, as 70 uepend upon
continuances aud cha ages Of venue and
waiting for the witnfsses of the state to
either die from old we or scatter and
render conviction Questionable or im-
possible.
This matter, howovcf, must be settled
by the tax payers to suit themselves.
If they desire TO keep on.pAying money
to enable criminals TO dtfeat Justice,
then no one has right tost,Dmplain.