The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-08-19

taken away. In an address which |
delivered before the American Bar as
sociaton ct Detroit some years since
advocated doing away with appeals in
Criminal cases. IL did not meet the
favor Of the association, but still
believe in its wisdom.
81 can but think that IL the com.
munity felt that the criminal would
certainly receive the punishment he
deserves, and receive it soon. the
~agerness of lynching would disap-
pear, and mobs, whose gathering too
often mean not merely the destruc-
ton of jails and other property, but
also the loss of innocent lives, would
greatly diminish in number.
"One thing is certain. the tendency
of lynching is to undermine respect
for the law, and unless it be checked
we need not be astonished il it be re-
sorted to for all kinds of offebses and
oftentimes innocent men suffer for
wrongs committed by others. "
A st. Louis minister last Sunday
was even more vehement. He said;
"In the name of American law and
of American citizenship, have we
fallen so low that our criminal courts
and machinery of justice can not be
trusted to punish CRIME The practice
Of lynching is an insult to the judges
bench. to the trial by jury, to the legal
profession, and to the flag Of our coun-
try, which punis hes criminals as well
as protects the innocent. Every
lyncher is a traitor as we'll as mur-
derer. He defies the authority of his
country's courts and creates tribunal
of his own passion blinded will. May
God protect American from the an.
archism Of its frenzied mobs, from the
law Of the roadside gibbet and the
burning stake"
But admitting all this to be true.
the problem is not yet solved. The
question, what are we to do about it
is as much a mystery as ever. We are
told that men are afraid Of the laws
delay. If that is the cause, what is 60
be done to remove it, or to effect such
a change that men will not be afraid
of the laws delay? A person arrested
for this heipous crime is entitled
under the law to the same treatment
accorded other criminals. The law
makes no distinction. He is ar.
raigned, and is entitled to counsel.
His counsel is compelled to serve if
appointed by the court, and if he
serves is required by professional
ethics to do his best. IL is not ques-
tion Of innocence or guilt with him.
but of saving his Client IL possible. He
may first try for a continuance. II he
secures this, there ia delay. II he
fails, and the trial takes place, there
is humiliation of the victim, who
must appear in public and be subeject
to the scrutiny Of the curious multi
tudes and the Interrogation Of attor-
neys. There Is the possibility of .
hung jury or life imprisonment. II
the death penalty is inflicted, first 10
the effort tor q new trail. If this is
futile, there is then the possible ap-
peal, with the further possibility Of
reversal and another trial. If not,
there is the possibility of escape from
prison, of reprieve, or of communication
or pardon, remote tho these may be.
If these fail and the crime is expiated
on the gallows, the end is the same
the menace to society has been re-
moved, the law vindicated, the ends
OF justice served. The above, how
ever, is the sort of delay that is speci-
fed as . barrier to the suppression OF
lynch law. How is II to be done
away with? The whole system of
criminal procedure must be changed.
Will 1t?
A st. Louis man has established q