New-York tribune., 1906-12-09

IN the first place there are. in comparison with
occasional violators Of the laN. an exceedingly
small number OF habtuaI offenders: and sec
.,ndIy when ort. OF this class does find himself
IN the tolls ne is far more likely 10 enter plea
~ guilty in q lesser degree OF the crime with
which h is charged. than to stand trial with
lis risk Of receiving the full penalty The au-
thor. accordingly. Is inclined 70 regard the orol-
nary prisoner al the bar with more sympathy
than blame. a. probably "a good fellow Who
has been led by passion or temptation lht" an
exceptional and regretted error. He argues that
the danger Of a man 10 society Is not 10 be
gauged by the degree Of crime Of which ne may
To- guilty.
r,o, and ~ 1. strikes 1hs other who loses his
equilibrium and falls. hitting his head AGAINST a
indicted ans tired for rnUr1er- Now. .e is doubt
ms ~ The co-nTnunitT than a professional thief
who preys upon the public by ImperSonatlns a gas
-r~ess 10 private dwellings. steals the own
e propery one is an aceiaen TIia ~ me sefT an al
Nroie and other probably not really hostile
r1urdereT and the otheT rarely held guilty OF
1.1Ii in tins. street If he be accompauezi by an
other and gEa5s yo1F IN, l. r6bherv"and gFy NAV
Ct twenty years for il. but the same man may
Tubish MALICIOUS n.I -Dou. tces ices rob Won Of
your good name. and be only guilty o. Hisoe
rneaEor-
r is apparent that society. as at present or
ganized has collectively very imperfect con-
ceution Of the real principles Of justice. or OF
what constitutes moral turpitude. as distinct
from, violation Of arbitrary statUte-nlade law.
T. is for example. 4 crime II New York TO run
a horse race within a mile OF where court IS
sitting. 10 set of fireworks or MAKE dis
bl-sing noise a. q military funeral II city on
Sunday. 10 ride II q long distance bicycle race
more than twelve hours out Of tHNenty-1our' 10
-rln 2 ferry without authority or having con-
tracted 10 run one. 10 fail TO DO So [" "e-1
,p. ta6pe az the Patrons Of Husbandry,' or OF
,s--ai- other orders. without authority. Yet
many Of the things most abhorrent 10 our sense
of right do not come within the scope OF the
,---r,iraI law" II is not crime 70 allow
o1,14 n be run over b. locomotive, thoush
,-C-, oould lift II from the track without ihc'h-
,--rferce or danger or 10 watch your I4'I5H-
bo-'s house being consumed py Hre "i'Hol'
e.,,li-., in an alarm though he and his family
NAV be burned 70 death There are AIS" ilaIs
u-actices. social and commercial thal are op-
,-iolIslv injurious 10 Individuals and 10 me WEI
re ~ rbe community that have not Yet gol
i1por The statute book. Many criminals even
-boee guilty of homicide. as white as sno"
,o,npared with others who have never trans
e-eeeed The literal wording Of d statute
srxee 1bG president II large street r'ilway cor
l-l lIetr- @ -. ,T.+e always telling what
lo--IS-5. 81, N0yy W. have Blank and pay him
90 --.s- C -tIl Is how H. the same
things
--nl NJ Train believes that We are getting
as good an administration Of justice as We de-
serve. and that il VIII only be essentially i'm
r,roved when the public conscience IS aroused
- ,be Inconsistencies redundancies and omis-
.f,-.s n our present laws. There is little 10 COM
,Iair of to-day IL New York at least, he main
.a5re IN The matter Of the proyerbiaI laws
DELAYS. p, Prisoners are promptly brought 10 trIa-,
and postponcunents. when they occur. are almost
.-,-aratIy sought IN the interests q the accused
san further 10 hasten the procedure, the author
advocates doing away with the grand jury as
~ iudicting BODY and holding prisoner for
t-... o. t.l commitment o. tle examining MAG