The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-11
How INnching Might Re Prevented.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
1t is just like Governor Mount to be at
the head of a national protective associa-
tion not by virtue of his office as a Cover
nor but because of his eminent fitness as a
man of affairs. 1t is just like him, too,
to magnify the functions and success of
such an organization, not by overstating
facts, but by simply telling what the assoc
citation has done and what it is capable of do
ing when it shall have permeated the whole
State. In that good time, he thinks, farm
ers will be comparatively free from the pest
Of horse-thieves, a consurlmation most de-
voutly to be wished. But it seems to me it
is quite unlike so practical a man to as
sumo that a system of detection which is
proving so beneficial should be limited TO
horse stealing alone or chiefly, and that such
crimes as murder burglary, arson, highway
robbery and the cruel torture of helpless ole
people and a thousand other crimes every
way more deplorable than horse stealing;
should not be included in the scope of such q.
detective agency. If horse stealing can be
almost abolished through the machinery Of
such an association, why may not the assoc
citation embrace these greater offenses? May
they not be reduced to a minimum also?
| If so, why should the State interfere only
after the preliminary steps of detection and
arrest have been taken at private expense
and under the management of such an aSSo-
citation as that which the Governor honors
by his leadership and lauds in his address
Our laws recognize this association and
grant it certain rights and immunities up
to a certain stage, at which the State comes
in and takes charge of the case, prosecuting
and defending with impartiality and quite
as often allowing the guilty man to go free
under technicalities or dilatory proceedings
as any other way, thus making it necessary
in such cases as the Ripley county affair
for the association to proceed to execution
! by short cut and without the formality
! of Incorporation. In early times horse
thieves were dealt with in this way and
were wonderfully thinned out until horse
| stealing became as rare as the Governor
| hopes to see it when his association be-
/ comes ubiquitous
But why should not the State take hold
| of crimes at the beginning? Why should 1t
/ be left to private associa tons to detect and
arrest and furnish testimony on. which to
| convict, and that only on limited class OF
| offenses? 1t would be just like Governor
Mount, with his experience as a detective
/ and his broad views in practical matters, to
suggest to the Legislature such modifica-
| ton of our criminal laws that the state
should take hold of case at the very be-
| ginning, thus obviating the necessity OF
| these private associations for doing what
interests the whole body polite. The man
! who steals horses tonight is likely 10 DC
| the burglar of tomorrow night, and the
heartless assassin of the next night. Yes,
it will cost something. 1t Will cost great
| deal but it will not cost the individual mem
bers of these associations half as much to be
protected against every class of crime as II
now costs them to be protected against
horse stealing alone, for everybody will con-
| tribute to the expense, and everybody VIII
| be benefited. I am not sure but 1t would
be sound commercial policy even, to say
nothing Of the moral and social phases OF
the case to make the arrest and PUNISH
ment of criminals the chief business OF life
for decade or SO, as we made the sup
| preston of the rebellion our chief business
/ for several years. I see no reason why
crimes against the State may not become
| as rare as crimes against the United states
| are If we adopt the government S effective
| measures for detection and prompt and in
| dependent methods of conviction and punish
| ment. At our present downward trend we
| will soon be at the mercy of the criminal
classes if we are not alTeady To in w Maio on
| tba COLLATION. Of any law is to cultivate a
| spirit of rebellion against all law; Let us
| hone that Governor Mount will take this
| dangerous bull by the horns as herocially
| as he has some other bulls. U. L. SEE.
Indianapolis, Oct. TO-