Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-24
OUR POSITION.


Answer" to comments in our last issue
which we felt justified in making upon
his voluntary contribution in the same
issue. All we care to say in comment
ing upon his answer is, that what we
have said and may say in the future,
is not prompted by any personal
motives. but is rather the reflection Of
public sentiment that we hear cX-
pressed upon the streets and in public
places as we make the rounds in the
discharge of daily duties. The people
do differ with Mr.. Williams as to the
guilt of his clients and they do believe
that Lord and Emery have had all
proper advantages to prove their in
nOcence that any one could ask. If
the verdict of juries is not evidence of
criminal guilt after a careful review
Of evidence presented to them, then
we have no way of proving the guilt
of criminals.
In our comments last week where
we said that "when men like Lord
and Emery with little money, without
friends or influence" can make sport
of justice, we desired to convey this
idea: If men so situated can make
sport of justice as they have done,
then what is not possible by men of
money, friends and influence?
AS to the other points raised by Mr..
Williams, we are willing that the
reader of his article should judge for
himself, for we have neither the space,
time, nor inclination to enter into a
discussion of the evidence in the case.
Mr.. Williams clients are in Waupun
where they will probably remain.
In regard to the revision of the
criminal procedure, we append three
editorials taken from other papers
that bear out the position we have
taken. There can be only a few more
such abuses of the peoples money as
are indicated in the extended trials Of
Lord and Emery, Durrant, Luetgert
and others before the people will call
for change in the constitution.
To quote his conclusions: 81 doubt
if you are accomplishing any good by
your course. Stirring up hatred and
prejudice of mankind, unrest and dis
respect for our laws and courts cannot
rebound to the paramount honor OF
any man."
That is all very nice, Mr.. Williams,
take it home and try it on yourself.
tWe complain of our burdensome
of jGsficttr cttr2m 1.t the loose
worst class. In France their careers f aHs
are closed out in "jiffy"; it requires
months for an American court to reach
| the same conclusions as would be
obtained in France in the course of a
week"
Owe can say to the true reformers,
Here is field where genuine reform
is needed and the legislatures of the
several States should take immediate
measures to carry out thorough reform
in the administration of justice in crimi-
nal cases. The expenses grow more
unreasonable and more injurious every
day. Formerly trials which cost the
county three or four thousand dollars
were deemed eXorbtant, but now we
frequently hear of trials costing from
$4,000 to $4,000 1t is perplexing
problem how to limit these expenses,
| but where there is will there is way,
and it should be the determination OF
every taxpayer to devise some way to
diminish the taxes. which are becom-
| ing more burdensome every day.
The Evening Wisconsin, Milwaukee,
MURDER AND MONEY.
"The lawyers of the country are es-
tablishing very definitely the relation
| ship between cash and crime. They
! long ago demonstrated the power OF
money to delay and defeat the opera
ton of justice in civil procedure in the
| courts, and they are now furnishing
material for reflection by aw-ablding
citizens in the results achieved by money
| for the protection of criminals 1t is
! becoming more notorious every year
that the criminal backed by money has
! more than an even chance of escape
from the consequences Of bis unlawful
acts. The man who has committed
murder need not despair either for life
or liberty if he has means to enlist cap
able legal talent in his cause and to pay
the expenses of trial fought to the
last ditch by modern methods of legal
warfare
This is not an overdrawn view of
the situation, startling as are the facts
which it assumes to exist The court
records of the country show that in the
larger cities not more than three per
cent. of the persons indicted for MUIR
der 90 to the gallows, and only slightly
| proportion of them get long sentences
| to the penitentiary. THE Commercial
| Louisville, Ky.