The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-06
Provisions Of Procedure Act Just
Passed BY Congress.
NEW JUSTICE COURT sysseM.


The territory OF Alaska, according 20 q
special dispatch from Washington pub
Nsled In the Post-Inteiiigcpeer yesterday.
now rejosces in q complete code OF crfnia-
a procedure speeiaiiy adapted 90 the re-
(uiramenfs Of the territory, hitherto mea-
gasiy subserved by the patchwork OF stat
utss which have bean the guiding rules OF
the criminal court.
ny far the most important provisions OF
the new code, s&eeprdiag 20 the Dispatch.
are those ieeailadE md licensing the sale
Of intoxicating ba6ers within the territory,
which, II appears, were added as amend
ments TO fh. original bill. The full text Of
the amended bsii has not yet been received
In Seattle, bu. copy % the Original meas
IRE. house bill No Ssl. az passed ny ma "a.
orancn OF congress. has been received by
xhe Poss-Inteiltgencsr- II ID said that the
amenw1QgentH. except fhoee relating 10 The
sale 81 liquor, are not radfcat ana fhat we
hill. with the exception noted, VIII become
. law when signed by the president, prac-
ideally IN I: left the house
the provisions Of the original bill are very
broad. Not only are ali crimes and their
punishment clearly defined, but the course
or procedure III distinctly outlined making
impossible IN future the escape OF notorious
lawbreakers on technical.'ies due TO defects
In the old laws.
The common law Of England. as adopted
and understood in the United States. IL
adopted az the foundation OF the new code.
The grand jury system II continued in
force. bur with all doubts as TO ifs legality
removed. All feIonies must be tried upon
Indictment by the grand jury: The general
tended to Alaska with minor notifications
The district court of Alaska is given juris-
dic;ion over all cases of felony, as under the
old law. bnt with clearly defined powers.
system Of Justice Courts.
The most radical change from the old
0yatem is the establishment Of complete
system OF justice courts having power 10
commit offenders to await the action of the
district court ana grand jury in cases Of
alleged felony, and having power 10 try
and punish IN cases OF misdemeanor These
Inferior courts are TO be presided over by
the United States commissioners, appointed
by the president under the existing laws. or
by the district court. under the new law.
who are by the new Law made ex-offici0
Justices Of the peace and allowed 10 exer-
else the powers mentioned At such places
- may be designated by their appoint
menta In the same manner the present
deputy United States marshnis and those
who may hereafter be appointed are made
e1-ctBeso conStabies of the justice courts.
The new act supplies "a long felt want
IN Alaska by providing for coroners. The
commissioners appointed by the president
and by the courts are under its terms given
the same Jurisdiction usually exercised by
the coroner In cases Of death by violence or
under suspicious circumstances
All thu crimes In the calendar are fully
defined by the new law and their punish
neM preseFtbed In most cases. the crimes
Federal code In the United States with cor
responding penalties. but there are some
crimes peculiar to Alaska which are taken
cognixancc OF By the new law
In murder cases. under the new code the
death penalty II prescribed for murder In
the first degree. but the jury may qualify
tai punishment" and imprisonment for life
Win FOLLOW instead of hanging. Osher
heInous crimes against the person are de-
Aned In the same chapter. The age of con-
aASrt ter (nvva all Ia 3waA ~ he ~
years.
One crime which the statutes OF few
states refer to is defined and a punishment
provided for hy the new act This consists
In the pointing OF firearms al one person by
another. even without malice and even
when the same are not discharged. or when
no injury follows their discharge. The pen
atty. upon conviction. Il fine OF 500. or
imprisonment in the penise5tiary for not
more than one year, or both.
Grimes of u MininG Country.
The crime Of robhing slnice boxes, he'd
rock In mining claims and ms,tes IN general
IL fully defined and punishment OF from
one TO Ave ypars In the p~nsteFtiarS or a
fine OF from $f0a to 81 .0ee or both fine and
imprisonment, Is prescribed. This law Is
somew hat unique.
In tho chapter defining and fixing the
punishment of connt.rfeiting. forgery and
aimilar crimes. - mentioned one offenss
which probably does not appear I'm the
code Of any state In the Union. 1t IS de-
any gold dust with amy metal or coin
Of less value than such gold dust with I'm
tent to pass or sell or tn Any way dispose
OF such gold dust as genuine. the pass
Ing OF. selling or otherwise dlsposing of
such aduiterAfrd gold dust genuine
knowing the same To be mixed or aduiter-
afed. fmprfsonnsen tu the penifentsary
for term - frcm one to FIVE yFars is
preAcr5ned as the penalty. A similar pen
atty IL presegst-sd for the efYenSs OF hav-
ing I'm ones possession such sHui.eratsd
gold dust with intent IL pass II an as gem
uins.
The new cadss defines Al great length the
crimes % perjury, sulsosuafion OF per Jury
and bribery. or ATTEMPTED bribery and
pr~scril,ss heavy penalties.
The morals NJ tive territory will be pure
if they he made and kept SO ny law
The keeping % a hostsT al ili-fama is made
sntsdenssasior punishable hy iUpsisan-
ment for no. less than threw months ar
more than one year. or By a fine of not
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