The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-09
LAWS
NEED REFORM
-SOMMERS
Essex Sheriff Says State
Should Hire Able Attorney
Solely to Defend Accused.

~ <o~ AAOA VA ~
the nightly routine hat everyone
would condemn. yet Sheriff Frank II.
Sommer delivered an address last
night to the Mems League of the Cen
trail Presbyterian Church and its
guests hat gained the hearty approval
of a large assemblage that had just
dined and which frequently ~applauded
him. His remarks were uncanonical
and were couched in the language and
delivered in the manner of the business
man and lawyer. 1t was an appeal to
reason on behalf of reformatory laws
respecting the treatment of criminals.
Inc the speakers broad humanity and
deep philosophy struck the hearts OF
his auditors as they have perhaps been
struck by few Sunday sermons In
years.
Sheriff Sommer was the final speaker,
those who preceded him discussing
questions of more or less moment In
an interesting and sometimes humor-
Gus manner, but it was evident that
ever those down to respond to toasts
made their remarks brief. SO that the
chief speaker could have all the time
he desired.
The brotherhood of humanity, not
from an academic but from the actual
standpoint intended by the words, was
the theme of Sheriff Sommer's address
He declared that while it is the theory
of the law in this country that all men
are equal, in practise, there is q wide
variance in classification, the man of
ducats being a far better and more
worthy man than he of the impover-
ished purse. He declared himself so
far a Socialist as to favor a paternal
State that shall incorporate in its or
ganic law officers to defend as well as
to prosecute offenders of the law
Prior to the sheriff's address the
Rev. Charles Ernest Granger, pastor of
the church, in behalf of the mems
club. presented to Mrs. John Wall,
president of the Ladies' Aid Society,
who furnished the banquet and served
1t to the diners, a handsome bouquet of
chrysanthemums sin token of love and
affection" Many of h ladies listened
to the speeches and were quick with
their response and applause. Under
Sheriff Charles NJ. Mason, who was
personally acquainted as a neighbor
with most of those present, said a few
words in commentator of the Mems
League as a mean for interesting
young men in pleasures and work that
shall keep them from low associates.
The Rev. DR.. Davis w. Lusk, of the
Sixth Presbyterian Church; John M.
Tomey, president of the league. and the
Rev. Mr.. Granger also made brief
speeches.
To present his argument effectively,
Sheriff Sommer opened his discourse
by drawing a verbal picture of a young
man fallen into dissolute ways, who
finally becomes a criminal. Made a
cripple by an. accident and, unable to
secure damages because of the INDUS
trial liability law, the man finally is
sentenced to Jail. In paat the sheriff
said: ft8 $40
MANY reforms are needed In the ad-
m~inistration of the criminal law. You
will realize this If you stop to consider
that in the Sheriff of each county, the
chief of constabulary, the man in whom
is imposed the duty of enforcing the
criminal law, is not only vested the
power of app~rehending the accused, but
also vested the power of drawing the
grand jury by whom the accused will
be indicted, If he is indicted, and also
the selection Of the petit jury before
whom the accused will be tried.
Such q situation is absolutely intol-
cradle, for the accused has not about
him the safeguards the father intend
ed he should have. At every stage from
his apprehension until he finally lands
in State prison, he is practically at The
mercy Of his ccuser The Sheriff, as
his Gus in experimenting him, can
by thu drawing the Grand Jury and
selecting the petit jury, work out his
will on the accused, unless the court
- ...44-~ AHIoQ1IA ILL 80
The power of drawing the Grand Juries
and selecting the petit juries should be
taken from the Sheriff, and IL the
amendment of the constitution is
requisite, as I think it is, then 1 want
the constitution amended.
"All men are equal before the law,
theoretically, out actually as if all men
had the same number of golden ducats.
/ would call your attention to the in
surance indictments that have long
been pending in this county. Every
step of the prosecution is being fought
bitterly to establish the innocence Of
the accused officials. And 1 ask you
why? Simply because they have the
reouite funds to employ competent
counsel.
II say that if the State employs an
OulCldl TO pfOSNSule Tic dCCuSeu IL
should also employ just as able counsel
to defend the impecunious accused. I
mean by this a man of learning and
ability, so far as the criminal law is
concerned, shall be employed solely for
the purpose of defending those who
need counsel. 1 want him to realize
that he is an officer of the court, an
officer of the State, and owes a duty
to the court and to the accused. l
would also bar him from other criminal
practise, so that he will not resort to
tricks, but see to it that the men he
is paid to defend are not unjustly con-
demned.
although 1 have the utmost faith
in the court and the prosecuting
officials, including the detectives, 1 do
not believe that the detective who has
had charge of the prosecution should
furnish to The court the record of the
accused before sentence is passed,
This is now the method of procedure,
but do not want 1t to continue in
definitely. Not because / can specifical-
ly state that it has resulted in injury,
but it may some day.
I'm every a especially a detective,
there is the spirit of the hunter. He
MT 0rfxr rrra - rt1 dawn his 1oraxy