The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-21
THE ZONES VERDICT.


Somewhat similar to the result of the
trial in the Jones case, although hard
Iy to be mentioned in the same breath,
is the action of a San Francisco jury,
also in a murder case. However the
California jury did return a verdict of
guilty but avaiIed itself of the privilege
of saving the mans life, and did not
as here entirely acquit a self-confessed
murderer. Town Talk treats the Cali
fornia case in the following vigorous
language:
"a jury in Judge Carroll Cooks court
found a man guilty of murder in the
first degree, the other day, and then
fixed the penalty at life Imprisonment.
AS it was an atrocious murder without
a single extenuating circumstance that
could be urged in behalf of the defend
ant. Judge Cook was amazed at the
action of the jury in availing itself of
the privilege of saving the wretch's
neck, and took occasion to rebuke the
jurors for their misguided leniency.
The .murderer's victim was a woman
whom he shot without the slightest
provocation, and as in all cases where
proof of guilt is Overwhelming, the in
sanity plea was interposed. In COM
nenting on the verdict Judge Cook said
that the circumstances of the case were
such that, the jury having found the
defendant responsible for his crime,
there should have been no question as
to the penalty that should be imposed.
In his opinion the law could be vindi-
Gated only by the hanging of the mur-
derer. 1t is the miscarriage of justice
such as that which Judge Cook depre
tration of the law by negligent and
corrupt officials, that is responsible for
what might be termed, without exag
geration, the reign of terror which is
alarming residents of this city today.
Crimes resulting from violence are of
daily occurrence, and scarcely a week
man being to contribute to the sensa-
tionalism of the daily papers. No such
reckless disregard of the law is to be |
observed in any other city in the world. |
The reason for this shocking state of
affairs is not hard to divine-hanging
bees are too few and far between. The !,
shedding, of human blood with malice
aforethought no longer involves serious
risk. The consequences of a protracted
season of political Decentralization are /
now being felt. Life and property are
far less secure in this city today than
they were in the period that imme-
diately preceded the organization of
the original vigilantes. This statement
viii be received with incredulfty by
those whose time is absorbed by the
various activities, but it is easy of
yerification. Corroboration may be
found in the records of the morgue and
the criminal courts. The slightest
brawl nowadays eliminates in an at
|
an arrest is made, the potent pull is
invoked, and even before the machinery
of the law is set in motion plans for
the thwarting of justice have been ma
tured. The case is juggled from the
very beginning, and even though the
defendant is convicted it is more than
likely that the record will reach the
Supreme Court in such shape that a
new trial becomes certainty. BY the
time the second trial is held the prin-
cipal witnesses have disappeared apd,
if ever the prisoner does go to the peni-J
tentiary it is for such a short period
that he has reason to feel that he es-
capped punishment. So infrequently is
the law vindicated that people of
vicious tendencies are becoming more
rampant every day. 1t is becoming
frown. The leniency of juries is re-
sponsible for much of the lawlessness
aroused public sentiment will revolu-
tionize the administration of justice in
this city, and bring about that security
to life and property which is the boast
of all civilized communities
EIGHT HOUR LAW UPHELD.