The age-herald., 1897-12-24
BAD AS THE REAL CRIMINAL
Guilty Until Proved Innocent, the
 French Idea.
MANY REFORMS PROPOSED
The Discussion Which Is Going On Over the Dreyfus Case is Likely to Result in
 Some Remedial Legislation.
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 One very beneficial result to the French people from all the excitement of the Drey- fus criminal is the adoption of a bill by the chamber of deputies providing for sweep ing prison reforms. There has been an urgent need of radical changes in the al- most grotesque conditions that obtain in the administering of justice in France.
 The French law recognizes two great divisions of offenses under the heads of "Delts" misdemeanors) and "Crimes'' del- onies). This is in France a most import ant distinction, because man under the charge of a misdemeanor can only be tried in correctional court and never sentenced to more than five years Imprisonment; man charged with felony must have a jury trial and stands better chance or nearly always getting a lighter sen- tence, though his crime is far more se- rious in every way. =
 The French have a truly serio-comic way of defining the terms felony and misde- meanor, which, while undoubtedly plctur- esque, is certainly, from a moral stand point decidedly disappointing. The sentl- mental side of the Gallic nature plays a very strong part in the judicial system in this country, and vagaries of French jury are as irresponsible and faneiful as a dream. If an outraged husband should give his wife a thrashing to teach her the error of her ways he IS more than likely to receive a severe sentence at the hands of the correctional judge. Should he kill her outright the chances are very strong that a jury in the Assize court would acquit him without leaving thelr seats, or else give him reprimand Such anomalies are really the order of the day 4l1n oh a1r 1ictr rat n Then, again. a comparatively mild offense can be and often is construed through circumstances into an absurdly serious one, and vice versa.
 Suppose a chicken thief, armed with a jimmy or crewbar, climbs into your yard and breaks into your chicken coop and you catch him. He will be held for a very se- rious crime. He will be found a felon, guilty under four counts-burglary, climb ing wall, breaking a door, and, the west of all a "main armee," with a weapon in his hand. He may never have offered to use it in the least for defense, but this makes no difference. He can only be tried in the assizes, and on the four counts IS likely to get a penitentiary sentence of twenty years or eight years. This is a paltry chicken thief
 Now, if a sneak thief has managed to get into house and, when surprised in rifling jewel case of something, picks up a poker and beats the owner into 1nsensl- bility he does not run half the risk or the poor chicken thief. Though he has nearly killed somebody, his crime is only a misdemeanor. He did not break into the house and he does not carry any arms. As to his beating the man with the chalr, although, no doubt, premeditated act, as he naturally intended to defend himself if caught, it was only act of impulse, committed on the spur of the moment, and without malice prepense. Thus the man, though he has nearly killed a man, can never get more than five years in prison and must be tried before a correctional court.
 When a person is placed under arrest in Paris he is known as a suspect and taken to the "Prefecture de Police." Here are very scant accommodations, indeed, TOT anybody. Outward appearances count good deal, and if the suspect has good clothes he Is given the privilege of little room dubbed by the Parisians, the room for decent coats" When the Black Maria empties it's load an officer quickly sepa- rates the captives, and the outwardly re- spectable are put into the room mentioned, while the others are huddled together, hel- ter skelter, at least for a while. In this crowd you may see representatives, at least as far as appearances go, of every class of society.
 The rank and file of the daily "round-up" of suspects, never less than 210 are crowded together in an i'll smelling badly ventilated hall with fagstone floor. The floor, even at it's best, is very dirty, and the furni- ture consists of rough wooden benches. Still there is one redeeming feature: the suspects must be released within twenty four hours or sent to the trial prison.
 This is distinct improvement as far as accommodations and sanitary arrange ments are concerned. The prisoner Is lodg- ed alone in a small cell and his lawyer and friends may visit and talk over mat ters with him pending his appearance be- fore a judge But there are a gerat many exceptions to the rule. If deemed an inn portant prisoner he Is kept strictly "au secret" denied seeing speaking to any one and kept under the most intolerant espionage.
 Such an unfortunate must go about the small room where he is permitted to exer- else with an elaborate contrivance over his face. This consists of sort of mask that looks far more like huge wire cloth fly trap. It is securely fastened by straps on the back, and the wearer Is strictly for bidden to raise his hands to his face. And not alone this. A guard close behind him follows every step to see that by chance no motion is made by the prisoner that might serve as a signal for any possible outside confederate or friend.
 Then there is guard perched high chair near the window to watch if any friendly individual should approach the prisoner and note his actions. Such a pris- oner is harassed in every way, and time and again evidence is prepared" to con- vict on some point or other. Such men known to the prison management as marked" for some reason or other and they suffer for the misdeeds of others far more often than for their own. There is absolutely nothing open public about these peoples trial. Everything concern ing them is conducted with the greatest secrecy, and the result may be ina gined. I. Nf 4kt vt At