The age-herald., 1901-07-17
Frequently Employed in Divorce Suits and Police and
 Petty Courts
SETS GUILTY CR|MINALSFREE
Distinguished Iowa Lawyer Says the Nation Should Not Cry Out Against Trusts and Combines and Pass
 Unnoticed Greater crimea

Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 1e.-Prestdent J. J. Mccarthy made startling statements regarding the prevalence of bribery in American courts of justice in his address to the Iowa State Bar association at it's annual meeting in this city today. ''Is it true," MT. Mccarthy asked, that per- jury is committed In judicial proceedfngs7 I need take no time for the discussion of this inquiry before a representative of the bar association. It will not do to credit to false statements to lack of memory, visionary exaggeration, inability to see and understand things correctly, while lies, imaginary delusions and such like.
 Where is there a lawyer who has not seen the guilty criminal pass out of the court room acquitted and set free because of perJured testimony? what one of us but has seen the rights of persons and of property sacrificed and trampled under foot, presumably under due form of law. but really and truly by the use of corrupt and false and sometimes purchased testi- mony? These are the things that beget distrust and disrespect for the courts and for verdicts, and for our boasted form of law. These are the things that produce anarchy lynching and invite a just con- tempt as well as lack of confidence in those tribunals called courts of justice
 Evidence That Is False.
 'one judge of long experience upon the bench writes me that in his opinion about one half of all the evidence received on behalf of the defens in criminal cases Is false.
 Another judge of equally high repute writes that he beliesves 75 per cent of | the evidence offred in divorc cases ap- breaches deliberate perjury. "Another writes that perjury is conn mitted in majority Of important law suits and the crime is rapidly increas- l ing . Tn short with reference to the preva- lence of perjury the time has come when, in the words of another, justice must wear . veil, not that she may be impar- tial but that she may hide her face for shame. Some tell us that this committed mostly in the police and petty courts. whereas, as rule. the witnesses belong to the vicious classes. But the fact re- mains that it Is committed in other courts and by men protesting high station in society church and state.
 "Who can blame poor outcast of so- ciety for false swearing, when presunha- bly, reputable citizens do the same thing? Why do we expend time and money in prosecuting some poor tramp for steal ing oyerooat to keep from freezing when the wrecker of bank. the despoil- CT of home the taker of human life or the emhezzler of thousands goes unwhip- ped by justice.
 Crimes Pass Unnoticed.
 "Why should a nation or state cry out against discriminations trusts. combina- tions and 'watered' stocks when the very crime that makes them possible is passed unnoticed? Why does the press of country write volumes on the constitution following the flag when then sanctity of an oath that gives both the flag and the constitution their real significance is al most ignored?'
 MT Mccarthy then proposed remedies. He said oaths were too common. He fa- and the emphatic administration of the judicial oath. He believed that the judge himself should administer all oaths; that it should be done with gravity and solemnity, and that witnesses should be told the extreme punishment which would be meted out to perjurers. Then the law should be enforced. Perjury should be swiftly and severely punished, and If it was so punished strong public senti- ment would rapidly grow up against 1t and men would hesitate before commit ting this most heinous, wicked and cruel crime.