Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-12-31
LURES AND M0BS.
lncompetency of the Former and Bar. barism of the Latter Menace
 Justice.
1COntributed.l |

Contributed
 By careful study of the juries of today, especially those empaneled on cases known to the law as criminal, there is strong reason for concluding that they either comprise in many in stances, at least, men woefully in competent; men who stultify their true convictions in endeavors to please the public, or men who have their minds biased and perverted by prece- dent. Incompetency in jury does not always imply ignorance in its per sonnel. It is too often just the op- posite condition. The frequency of the public cry, denouncing individual members of juries as having had ul terior motives in rendering decisions adverse to public knowledge and opinion, of cases passed upon, demon strates beyond reasonable doubt de- gree of incompetency that is repre- hensible to all fair minded people. That class of jurymen working for public favor, insofar as they are able by the sentiment gathered from the auditors upon criminal cases, are, of all men, the most to be condemned. They do not only stultify themselves, but commit overt perjury. The tiased and perverted juror is today becoming menace to justice. His presence among a body of deliberators is not only hurtful to them but also tc the cause they represent. His position and opinion are alike iniquitous. His regard for an oath is scared with in difference and lassitude. Most men seek to avoid service on juries. The man whose actions are always guided by precedent rather than by the evi- dence presented does not blush to offer his services, and is ever avail able. In murder trials, for the last decade, there has been a growing lax ity and indifference. Just what has brought this condition about has yet to be divulged. It. is claimed that in certain states fear of the aftermath seals the verdict before any evidence has been submitted; that just accord ing to the power of the defense phy sically and fin; lcially, the verdict may as we'll hay 6een considered re- turned and rendered without the te- dium of witnesses While this is doubtless a prejudiced view, magni fled by the results of certain trials, there is nevertheless, room for some concern as to the incraese of crime and criminals. not in any individual state, but in many of the states.
 Those who want to be criminal have not failed to observe that ave nues of escape from capital punish ment are being widened by every womanish decision of sympathetic, incompetent, prejudiced and perverted juries. It is to the shame of the United States and all law-abiding peo- pie that these conditions are allowed to continue, thus increasing the dan gers already eXtant. Shall the mob law be encouraged or shall the newly favored lynch-law prevail? There is something appalling in the growth of the sentiment in our country favor ing these inst ;tutions for meeting out justice. There is no use trying to eveade the stigma in the assertion. Too many states are now resorting to these means o1 redress for the coun- try to be in ignorance of its advance ment And while 1.-two wrongs never make a right, the wrongs will con tinue until the wisdom of providence, through the mediums of earth has offered an issue from the distressing evil. Courts of justice are too slow for the vengeance of man-that is judging from the amount of rope in use seeking to expedite action and the while to save money to the respective municipalities. The wisdom of the lawyer will not permit him to suggest a remedy for clientele reasons. The legislatures are composed too largely of lawyers to allow them to formulate laws that ought in some dergee to lessen the burden of apprehension among the Christian people. This seems to be the present status. Yet it must eventually fall to the lot of this representative class to evolve speedier means of performing the law. They must see wherein the fault lies and there begin the inauguration of reform. Courts of justice today are. looked upon as farces. If the modus operandi of the mob is to be the only of the problem of a specific crime. where are the humanitarian laws of our forefathers to be em- ployed? There seems to be passing of the court of justice; a passing of honest juries and finally the under mining of laws of equity. Let us rally to the support of the goddess. Justice, and by the precepts of her teachings subjugate the furies of an and unreasonihg element that is fast multiplying in our midst.
 
 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY.