The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16
HOW CRIMINALS
DODGE PROSECUTION

OI SilleL "a pOllce, lllslL person. newer
realizes until then that che country is
just what the people make 1t.
"A newspaper reporter. especially the
newspaper man who reports the pro-
ceedings of police court or district
court, or who rubs elbows with the
smart and clever men of the detective
forces of metropolitan cities, knows full
well from observation the truth of such
| X maxim.
Fortunate. indeed, is the newspaper
man who has seen service in "a police
department. no matter how large or
small how good or bad that police force
may be. 1t is an experience that can
1 be acquired in no other way by
| young man, and is valuable asset to
him in his life as newsgatherer, es-
.pecially If his choice lies in covering
the police run"
comes public prosecutor. does not real
| iZe that many of the criminals
arrested for petit and grand lars
ceny would never escape trial and
| proba BILE conviction We're it not for the
soft-hearted people who will not aid the
| public prosecutor IN the conviction of
| these criminals.
Indeed, their soft heartedness often
is measured by the ability OF the thief
or criminal to squire the kick" OF
make a touch back as the thief calls
1t; to reimburse the loser as the
man, If there is a carnival OF crime in
IA town or city. may be the very first
one or one among many to throw up
his hands in holy horror. rail at the
police and send communication to
the newspapers complaining OF the in
efficiency of the police or public pros
ecutor to score a conviction when the
case has been heard
Weakens in Crisis.
There are many we'll meaning but
soft-hearted persons who will refuse
to aid in the prosecution of people for
petty offenses. They are touched with
something in connection with the ar
rested persons life. environment or
poverty. 1t is the human interest side
of the story they scent strongly and
the prisoner escapes. The man or
woman who should have been his ac-
cusor turns upon the public prosecutor
the court, the policeman or detective
first requests that no prosecution fol-
| low then insists. and. If brought i'll az
an involuntary witness to accuse the
arrested person, makes the case so
weak as to give the prisoner liberty.
Lock UP Witnesses.
But the state. city or county officials
the proSecutOrS--often order 1mport-
ant witnesses detained. Often are
those who We're but casual witnesses OF
a crime put under lock and key and
held prisoners until the trial of the &C
cused is had because the county or city
or state prosecutor is afraid they will
! leave town or get away, ana VIII
weaken the case.
Then there is the dishonesty among
} the thief catchers which often must be
combatted by the public prosecutor.
pickpocket is arrested, caught red
handed by detective, or when ar
! rested. If soon after the commission OF
abe crime, with the goods on him." II
he is smart thief he Immediately
tries to square the copper. The amount
he stole as compared TO the amount he
is willing to surrender for liberty, i'm
mcdiately or ultimately. are not rela-
stolen super" or mans watch
worth probably only s25. That trick
if he was known as a clever gun" OF
thief. might cost him ten times thai
e TO get ss saa il if he had the money On
If the copper can't be squared" bs
the thief himself, after he mas laikct
4 ;suardedly with him for some time, tc
feel" him out and see whether lie i:
right or wrong some Influential
friend politician, lawyer, even {
) minister, who has been "conned" int
r believing that the young man has ac'
Y cepted religion, is sorry for his way.
e ward life and is willing 10 reform, see!
a. the officer II Il minister comes to tho
n copper" and makes a. talk like tina
q stew and the officer gives him little
q consideration, except that he must b.
courteous to him.
: How Ministers Are Treated.
A policeman or detective that wa
\ wrong" that wouldn't accept none,
/ and prostitute his oath Of Office, Nigh
listen to the minister. The officer VIII,
WAS considered right by the thievins
element would pay little attention L
the minister or anyone else. until III
q saw some advantage for him, ethc
): monetary advantage or political prefer
menu.
Then again the graft" question an,
issue is put up to the prosecuting at
torney. II he be Il Folk or man of hi
:, stripe, no proposition of settlement
n would ever be made or even limited
" But there are too few who stand un
"a der the gun like William Travers Je
rome of New York or the present Gov
ernor Folk of Missouri.
Though Sioux City is n town OF bu
10000 To 10000 persons, far from as
Stunning metropolitan proportions. TIL
ID police, the police judst, the county at
S torneN, are prevented from making
e case Or even bringing the guilty par
e. ties into court, sometimes, by thcs
., .. Nell-meaning but soft-hearted people
- Then They LAY Down.
3 When their houses arc robbed the
4 first report their loss to the police. TIL
4 detectives go out on the case. TIL
: chief of police, no matter what admin
istratioB. worries that the town is no
Z clean He is interested. fascinated i
! his work, # he enthuses over his call
ing. He does q whole lot of incense
= quential work. following clues her
!. and there that are but phantoms, bu
|. might lead to something. Finally tn
thief is caught. Maybe he is the so
of one of the prominent citizens Aft
y er weeks of work by this chief of pc
.. lice and his faithful officers, the thic
I. has been rounded up. Maybe doZe
b burglary Jobs are laid at his dool
4 The family name mus; be preserved
: The prominent citizen gets his neigh
q bors to go and figuratively speakin
LAY down" on the chief. EIe uses hi
lodge, his church. his business influenc
to stop the prosecution and finally hi
political influence, If he has any TIL
losers are reimbursed. and they acuer
1t and agree not to prosecute. afte
promising the police when they first II
ported their loss that they would bac
= them UP. And so the criminal escape.
either through soft heartedness {
through the aVarce of those who ha,
!. suffered {; loss.
Difficulty in QuelIins Crime.
, From this brief outline can be asce
u tanned the battle which many prosecu
= ing attorneys, magistrates and Officer
/, | have in keeDiDg down HIS rriroo