The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-22
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1908.
RICH AND POOR CRIMINALS.

In the news dispatches published Wednesday was one from New York stating that a man had sold merchan- disc to the value of about one hundred thousand dollars and pocketed the money, although the goods did not be- long to him and he had no right to sell them. He escaped punishment. .but in the same batch Of news was the ac- eount of a man who stole quarter of a dollar, to keep him from starv- ing, as he said, but he was sent to prison.
 These are two of many instances given in the newspapers where the It, tie thief Is punished while the big ono goes free. and the papers always re- fer to such cases as an evidence of the inequality and injustice of our laws. pr of their enforcement. This criticism is practically fair, but we noticed recently wheTs the eminent lawyer, District Attorney Jerome ofNew York, gave an explanation of the mat ter. When crime IS committed by corporation CT firm, or by several persons acting together. it is often very difficult, if not impossible, to fix the responsibility and criminelity where 1t really belongs. An offerse against the criminal iaws may have been committed by she firm, corr pany or corporation, but tne prosecutor may not be able to single out the individual who committed the~crime. It would not be just to punish all when it can not be proven that all were guilty, and so 1t Is that criminals on a large scale 20 free. It is on the principle that 1t is better for one criminal to escape than for the innocent to be punished
 Such conditions are not possible in the case of the petty thief who is de- tected. He has no aecomplices, and there are not others involved on whom the blame can be placed, or wA1sA numbers make 1t difficult to find the really guilty one He is caught and he alone is guilty; consequently his conviction Is easy and his punishment certain. It is not a ease where ialo- cent partners might be punisaei if any one is convicted, for in his case there are no innocent partners.
 There. is another point that is not al ways taken into consideration, and that is that the law. however honestly administered has many delays and ob- structions for those who can take ad- vantage of them. rich criminal with plenty of money to employ good law yers can secure appeals, changes of venue and other delays until if fre- ouently happens that he finally escapes punishment entirely. There are Vari- ous ways by which money can secGre delay. If not immunity, without any dfshonorable methods being resorted to. A criminal convicted of er;me must suffer the penalty if na has Q money to employ attorneys to aid him in carrying his case through all ,hc legal channels that are open to those who can afford to take advantage Of them.
 These are some of the reasons why the poor are punished and the rich ss cane when no discreditable means are employed. Still, 1t is apparent to all who keep posted that money defeats the ends of justice oftentimes in ways that will not bear the light. In plain words, judges, juries and prosecutors are sometimes fixed" when the accus- ed is rich. It is not credltable t1 ou~ system of justice but it is trae. Tho charge that only the poor arr punish ed is not entirely without foundation.