The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30
THE INCREASE OF CRIME.
For Which the Courts and Officers of
the Law are in Part Held Re-
SDOnSibIe.

Every effect is produced by some
cause The cause of so much crime is
a failure on the part of law makers.
ofhcers and courts to punish crime
Lawmakers fool away most of their
time in idle discussions Of trivial mat
tiers, and let matters of vital import
ance pertaining to the lives and morals
or the people go with little or no at,
tention.
The law against carrying concealed
weapons is farce Thousands aud
thousands Of men violate this law
every day 1t is a rare thing for one
to be punished; and if they are. they
are generally let off by paying the
cost of the suit, or a fine of ten dol
lars. They laugh at the punishment.
and go on with q pistol in their peck
ct. The Legislature ought to pass n
law imposing fine of $4,000, and six
months Imprisonment on all convict
ed of carrying concealed weapons No
honest man. except an officer of the
law, has any need for pistol in his
pocket Fifty years ago when men
wanted to punish each other, they
fought it out with their fists But
now they are SO cowardly that they use
pistols or knives.
If officers of the law and grand
juries were to do their duty, there
would be several hundred cases tried
in every court for carrying concealed
weapons. Bulls and bulldogs know
no other way to settle their claims fo'
mastery but by fighting. But men
ought to settle their disputes on a
higher plane than brutes.
With possibly a few exceptions, to
punish others with deadly weapons is
not a defense of honor. but token of
degraded manhood.
The courts are largely responsible
for the increase of crime. A horrible
crime is committed. The people are
shocked. and righteous indignation
burns against the criminal. He is ar
rested. If he can give big bond he
may escape prison. If he is impriSon-
ed he is kept there until court after
court passes until the horror awaken
ed by his foul crime dies down. and
sympathy for the prisoner increases
After long unnecessary Geiay the
time for trial is set. Before the trial
begins undue, secret efforts are made
to get jurors favorable to the defence
as in the Gattis-Kilgo case. Was this
the only case where efforts were made
before court, to find out who would 10
to put on juries?
The courts are SO remiss in punish
ing crime, that men shoot each other
down when they choose, and have no
fear of going TO the gallows; not even
of the lighteSt punishment, if they
have money and influence. Thus crime
is increased. Our people would be a
strictly law-abiding people if our laws
were properly executed; but good peo-
pie are getting tired of so many GRIM
inals escaping the punishment due
their dark crimes. The courts are
preparing the way for the increase OF
crime, and the increase of lynch law"
If all the officers of the law were
diligent, faithful and brave, they could
find out and break UP houses of i'll
fame, gambling dens blind tigers, IL
licit distilleries, and arrest a hundred
people a day with pistols in their
pockets. But many officers of the law
do not try to find out violators of law;
or. if they do. they wink at their
crimes, or. are afraid of being visited
by fire or bullets, if they report them.
None but honest. brave men, opposers
of crime are fit for officers of the
law. And these officers need. and
ought to have the strong, moral sup
port of all good people. If all who
claim to be moral and religious, would
set themselves against violators of the
law, it would be easy for officers to
drive out evil-doers. But as long as
of pretended church MEM |
bers give their sympathy and support
to secret violators of law there is no
hope for better times. Can any place |
in the underworld be too hot for such
enemies of their country. Such hypo- |
critics, and such corrupters of society? |
The time has come for plain talk and |
the enforcement of law.
7. A.. STRADLEY.