New-York tribune., 1896-09-02
no MERCY FOR CRIMINALS.
As 4 RESULT. PROFESSIONAL WHONG-
DOERS AVOID BROOkLYN.
plsTRrcr-ArrorxrY PLEASED At THE EEsrLT'

plSTR1CT-NTTOENl,N PLEASED At IfF- i'r-'' ''''
OF ENFORCING THE HABITrAL CRIMINALS
LAWS ADDITIONAL WORK ENTAiIED.
District-Attorney Backus IS era;i1ed at the
wholesome effect produced by his rigid enforce
ment Of the liabitua Criminals act lie says th"'
~ result there has been marked decrease IN
Kings County In the number of serious offences
such as usually committed 10y professional or
habtua criminals Robbcres and burglares OF
the frs; degree are not usually attempted bv
amateurs in crime. and Mr.. Rackus says that the
police records show that these crimes have been
practically abandoned in this county. "Th"re are
house hrea kings and burglaries." said the Dis
;ric Attoruey Yesterday but the police are OF the
opinion. from the nature Of the offences com
mitted. that few professionals are operating In
Brooklyn. and that practically no outsiders ar"
coming here for tlIe purpose OF operating. This
Is due TO Their fear Of the enforcement; Of the
il9hfual Criminals act.
"'rhe law Of our State gives great discretion 20
district-attorncys and courts IN the admnistra-
Ion of laws ae"ins; crime. In 'Sas nearly AL
in'mum punishmonts were abolished. so that In
first offences the courts may. whcr mercy and
justice rcquir" il; suspend sentence. It is the
spirit Of our law to let men VINO will work ont
their salvation, with fear and trembling even
fHough they hav" been convicted Of crime. II tn"
crime is FIRST offence and there is precious good
character. In the same spirit Of justice and mercy
tho habi'ual criminal laws wore enacted. though
cur State to hear Judges say TO habtua crmi-
nals I regret that cannot give YOU more than
TWO and onc-half years. whatever the tim"
may be- and tn" reason for this is that district
attorneys do not put in in" indictments the pre-
Nious convictions. In many Instances. to save
time and expenses Of trials light pleas are re-
ccivod for grave offences. think Il is the duty
OF 'he disirict-atiorncv n require locical plea
OF guilty OF tho real often 80. because tho court
may suspend sentence in any ordinary case Of
first offence.
Some consideration should be given to orr law
abiding citizens. and man who hahiiually prac-
tscs crime. after he has been convicted once should
he prevented from cndangerinC the lives stealing
tine property Of honest citizens. That - justice
both, and AT least mercy to honest and p,accable
men.
The punishment to tho hah!tual criminal when
convicted upon Indictment charging two or
more previous convictions is practically double
what IT is in first ofsnccG and the court must in
fict IA the minimum punishment what would hc
the ma ximum for the frs; offence The has no
discretion 10 suspend sentence.
"Ru' the grcn: fear OF habiiual criminals is tho
disadvantage und"- which they are compelled to
carry on tho profession OF crime after being rs-
dicially declared haiitual orinirais' Thoy may he
stopped or th- street and searched without
search warrant Tha' is embarrassing for man
who has either implements OF crime the proceeds
OF cfinr on his person. Again their houses MAJ
p" s"hrch"d at any tim" 10y any body without q
s"arch-wafrant That l. cmharrassing mans
horsc Is ms castle. ana no man either officer or
iriNat" citizen. can intrrdc without warrant OF
or the proceeds Of his crime Is projected from intri-
sion without warrant until he hrs beer declared
or night may ring his bcf or ran a, his door AID
When asked what he wants may say simply. Your"
court. and want 10 search your houS" l. makes
ii dificut to conceal crime hJ m" criminal and asy
nah''ual criminal So declared by Judge % a oour'
must keep his couducr abov. suspicion for d. may
sf.I .IN .t.tff. =
person II hi- conduct IS suspicious In other words
honest p"opl" arr To b. protected from hahitua
tho punishment ~ crimes committed and th" haiti
ual crinlf 81 + lf ms gr.-li ID. adyantta-
BROOKLYN r'.lg 20. Onlr city 90 vh.rn This iaw is
hAbifnallv enforced j. placed rpou flr danger l.sf
Dv rrinn,l- ana in every prison lu ihr stat warn
Brookl'a. ~ c'sr-" Il involves o." !inn"ns" dnpln
OF worl. 20 successfully "niofrc in' laN. hI, that
l. ahat sa'tiles are plI FOR and tnaf l- ~hlt r"
rly al H. .okitn ea'' - M" nrarN doi'' former di
propr.aiiogs fpr To illustrate; woman " aug li
~ one of orr seaside resorts picking pocket on
-earca.rs ger. q lIr;" amount o. mon 49, iolnI
"r,y or acr person. or experienced dcte'avc5
knG" by n'r conTu,, '"1 'in..,1 igoirv IN
every city in ~" country. and as result received
with pictures of her taken after sn d r'n''' ions
The chic. of police - Chicago avs i1i. -"' !. ilr
"i;v She has been convicted In TWO Other c.ii's
10 prepar. the .viirnce ani The inli-'m'n4 Wi!
ies,inony u wi.nes-e. from those cities wno 'an
identify her a th' prom mentioned ~ tno-, Jndr
work a. would tc required 10 inlct ami conyir, as
fr Or., offence and the eypcnse is perhaps doupl"
That - ona reason why asked for larger dppio-
nriltior and think II viii be money wei! spent Tor
ne protection Of BTooiltn
'In order that hereafter NOR" p"rf"c' record
m.I b. ke,f have established Oh" system of r"-
,",finr H. iha Secretary Of State and - ~" Pole"
Dnnarfmen' horc a fuil account of every month
work I'm the courts giving iho disposal or result -.
r,erv case This viii give fbo police not only u
record nj ,shat they th.ms"iscs ID. as has b'"l
heretofore the custom iut tho record Of fh" result
H., o.ct cas. as the work ia completed by IA" Di--
,,Ic,-Af,ornev a.d The courts This vii enable the
rof,c ~ riegraph =; 20 oiarr riiIrs IN" com
,,ln,e Rrooklyn career OF q man arrested
Whi. !, caused Mr. Iackus'- ohicc mucn work at
,h st.r' tn enforce the Iatitual C'imnai nri. tn"
,.,rE ~ the Office now nIch sh'cn"1 by IN" lack
~ a.i,l;v mere on the par, Of professional crooks