The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-12-22
THE JONES VERDICT.

Somewhat similar to the result Of the
trial in the Jones case, although hard
ly 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 awaited 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 man guilty of murder in the
, first degree, the other day, and then
| fixed the penalty at life Imprisonment.
AS 1t 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 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
menting 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 muir
oerer. 1t is the miscarriage of justice
such as that which Judge Cook depre-
Gated, combined with the maladminis-
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.
Crlines resulting from violence are of
daily occurrence, and scarcely a week
passes without the killing of some hui
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
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 We're in the period that imme-
diately preceded the organization of
the original Vigilantes. This statement
VIII be received with incredulity by
those whose time is absorbed by the
various activities, but it is easy of
Verihcation. Confederation may be
round In the records of the morgue and
the criminal courts. The slightest
prawl nowadays eliminates in an at
tempt to end human life. AS soon as
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 1t is more than
nkeiy that the record will reach the
supreme Court in such shape that
new trial becomes a certainty. BY the
ume the second trial is held the prin-
clpal witnesses have disappeared, and
III ever the prisoner does go to the peni-
tentiary 1t Is for such short period
that he has reason to feel that he es-
capped punishment. So infrequently is
the law INDICATED that people of
vicious tendencies are becoming more
rampant every day. It is becoming
dangerous 70 resent an insult with a
frown. The leniency of juries is re-
sponsible for much OF the lawlessness
that exists, but nothing short Of an
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"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAi
spirit Just as the wind is behind the
ship, driving It forward, Just as the
engine Is behind the factory turning
Its countless wheels and looms, Just
as the sun Is behind the morning,
bringing the light. The press did its
share to give America its institutions
and to defend them; It Is one of those
props and stays of our national fabric
which the Constitution recognizes and
protects. THE freedom of the press"
says our great charter. shall not be
abridged" and while that pledge is
kept you may be sure that the free
dom Of the individual. the freedom OF
the State and the sanctity OF the law
and its ministers will not be over