Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-25
A LEGAL OBJECT LESSON.

Inc expedition WIN WHICH lHt lTldi VI
the assassin Czolgosz was conducted
meets with the approval OF the whole
country II was right that the murder
er, though taken in the act of which
he was convicted, should receive u fair
trial according to law, so that all the
needful rules and regulations attend
ing such proceedings should be OBJ
served, and that he should be provided
with competent counsel for his defense,
In order that justice might be legally
dispensed and no advantage be taken
against him because of anger or preju-
dice.
The cutlery against the blood-stained
Anarchist was very natural. His
crime was so foul, and his victim so
much loved that the demand for sum-
mary measures was not surprising. Yet
It was an exhibition of wrong UNDER
standing Of the rights OF all people un-
der lhe institutions OF our country.
Judge Lewis was appointed to defend
, the assassin, rightly explained the mat
ter In this paragraph which is a sum-
mary OF his argument for the suprem-
acy OF the law:
Now, It Is the duty Of every Ameri-
can citizen, of every good man, to
stand firmly by the law and put his
voice against any idea that a man
should be punished for any crime until
he is proven guilty In court, beyond any
reasonable doubt"
This is the doctrine repeatedly enun-
ciated In these columns, Mob law is TO
be opposed denounced and suppressed,
no matter what may be the provocs-
tion for lawless violence. Every indivld-
ual who aids in the lynchlng Of an ac-
cused person is guilty OF the crime OF
murder. and places himself on the same
level as the victim Of that lawlessness.
This truth ought TO be impressed upon
the minds Of an people and be taught
70 the rising generation. The liberty
which we so much prize can only be
maintained by obedience to wholesome
law No one has the right TO take hui
man life except in self-defense. and that
only when his own life is in danger
The swiftness with which justice has
overtaken the murderer of our beloved
President has been greatly accelerated
by the rapidity with which jury was
empaneled The usual bubbles and
senseless objections commonly inter-
posed in such cases Were conspicuous
by their absence. Yet we have no
doubt that the jury which tried Czol-
gosz was impartial, and fully competent
20 pass upon the evidence and return
just verdict and yet all OF its menu
bers must have been somewhat familiar
with the terrible circumstances attend
ing the crime, and had read the news
papers which reported the tragedy and
commented upon 1t freely
There is no law with which we are
acquainted, which justihes the ex-
clusioa from luries OF persons whose
intelligence and good judgment NJ
them for the position, simply because
they have read accounts OF the offcnse
and the person accused OF committing
t. or have talked on the subject OF
course one who has formed a decided
opinion and expressed bias either for
or against the accused. which is Of a
nature that would influence him in de-
Gliding on the merits OF the case, ought
10 be rejected from the panel But the
system which prevails in our courts
frequently shuts out from the jury box
the most competent and fair minded
men. and there is no reason for Won
der that such peculiar verdicts are fire.
quently rendered In important cases.
Perhaps the number Of challenges
which are permitted upon either eide
opens the way to this hindrance In
the course Of justice and the foolish re-
lection OF really qualified persons. II
does not appear to be the intent OF
either the civil or criminal statutes 10
foster this kind Of discrimination. The
object In view Is 10 obtain jury that
VIII be impartial, unprejudiced and able
andwnling to decide In accordance with
the evidence adduced, in on inteiligent
manner Friends or enemies Of the DO
PENDANT are properly barred from serv-
ing as jurors in his case but II IL GER
tain that very often jnries are com
posed partly. Il not wholly, Of individ-
uais whose mental caliber IL not OF the
highes, order. but who can be carried