The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-23
HOW CRIMINALS
DODGE PROSECUTION

Until one has had a caste Of public
office. especially as public prosecutor
for the state or city or county. or has
acted in h capacity OF police officer.
no matter whether %patroltnan, detective
or chief OF police. that person never
realizes until then that the country is
just what h people mak 1t.
A newspaper reporter. especially the
newspaper nan who reports the pro-
,ceedings of q police " or district
court, or who rubs elbows with the
smart n clever men of the detective
forces of metropolitan cities. knows full
we'll from observation the truth of such
a maxim.
Fortunate. indeed. is the
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
be acquired in 10 other way by a
young man. and is a valuable asset to
him In his life as a newsgatherer, es-'
,pecially If his choice lies in covering
the police run"
And the average lawyer. until he be-
comes public prosecutor. does not real
ize thai many of the criminals
arrested for petit and grand lar
e n would eve escap trial and
probable conviction We're it not for the
soft-hearted people who will not aid the
ptlDllC pIOStCulOE il llle COIN ltllOIl OF
these criminals.
Indeed. their soft-heartedness often
is measured by the ability of the thief
or criminal to square the kick" or
make a touch back" as the thief calls
it; to reimburse the loser as the
churchman would put 1T. And this
man. If there is a carnival! of crime in
a town or city. may be the very first
one or II among many to throw up
his hands in holy horror. rail at the
police and send a 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 a 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 maj or
oma 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. il brought in as
an involuntary witness to accuse the
arrested person. makes the case sd
weak as to give the prisoner liberty.
Lock Up Witnesses.
But the state, city or county officials
the prosecutors-ofteu order import
ant witnesses detained. Often are
those III were but casual witnesses OF
held prisoners until the trial Of the ac-
cused is had because the county or city
or state prosecutor is afraid they will
leave town or get away and will
weaken the case.
Then there is the dishonesty among
the thief-catchers which often must be
combatted by the public prosecutor. n
p%ickpocket is arrested, caught red
handed by a detective, or when ar
rested. if soon after the commission OF
the crime, with the goods on him." IL
he is a smar thief he Immediately
tries to square h copper. The amount
he stole as compared to the amount he
is willing to surrender for liberty. inn
mediately or ultimately. are not rela-
lively measured. He might have
stolen a super" or rams watch,
worth probably only s25. That trick,
If he was known as a clever gun" or
thief, might cost him ten times that
to get off. If he had the money or
could get 1t. .
the thief himself. after he has talked
guardedly with him for some time, to
feel him out and see whether he is
right or wrong" some %infiIontial
friend. a politician. a lawyer. even a
minister. who has been ''conned" into
believing that the young man has ac-
.cepted religion, is sorry for his way
ward life and is willing to reform. sees
the officer. Ii a minister m to the
copper" and makes a talk like than
he is generally put down as a veal
stew" and the officer gives him littla
consideration. except that he must be
courteous to him.
How Ministers Are Treated.
A policeman or detective that was
wrong" that wouldn't accept money
and prostitute his ath OF office, might
listen to the minister. The officer VITO
was considered right by the thievlng
element would pay little attention to
the minister or anyone else. until he
saw some advantage for him, either
monetary advantage or political prefer
ment.
Then again h graft" question and
issue is put up to the prosecuting at
torney. If he be a Folk OF man of his
stripe, no proposition OF settlement
would ever be made or even limited.
But there are too few who stand I'M
der the gun like William Travers Je-
rome OF New York or the present Gov
ernor Folk of Missouri.
Though Sioux City Is 4 town OF but
10000 to 10000 persons. far from as
sulning metropolitan proportions. the
police. the police judge. the county at
torney. are prevented from making a
case or even bringing the guilty par
ties into court, something's. by these
sell-meaning but soft-hearted people.
Then They Lay Down."
When. their houses sre robbed they,
first report their loss to the police. The
detectives go out on the case. The
chief of police. M matter what admin
istretion. worries that the town is not
clean He is Interested. fascinated in
his work, il he enthuses over his call
ms. He o e u whole lot of inconse-
quential work, following clues hert.
and there that are but phautoms, but
might lead to something. Finally the
thief is caught. Maybe he is the son
of n of the prominent citizens. Aft
er weeks of work by this chief OF pv-
lice and his faithful officers, the thief
has been rounded UP. Maybe Il dozen
burglary Jobs are laid al his door.
The family name must be preserved.
The prominent citizen gets his neigh
bors to go and fguratively speaking
LAY down" on the chief. He uses his
lodge. his church. his business influence
to stop the prosecution and finally his
political influence. il he has amy. The