New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-03
ERRORS In JUSTICE.
Some Striking Instances of alleged
MaIGdminiStratiOn of 1t.

Undoubtedly there are criminals who have
been made such through maladministration OF
Justice. Men have been arrested for completely
in crimes in which they were unwilling accom-
plices, and sentenced 10 terms of imprisonment.
Some % them have afterward succumbed to the
temptation 70 have The game we'll as the
name.
The instigator OF the great Ocean Bank rob
berry in New York IN which more than two mill
ions Of dollars were secured by the burglars, ac-
cOrdng 70 the account written a short time ago
boy the man who lays claim 10 the authorship of
that famous crime became criminal through
a miscarriage OF justice. According TO his story.
when a young man he was the owner of
hotei and livery stable in Eastern Nassachu-
sets. He had been thrifty and had laid away
a few thousand dollars. one day stranger
applied TO him for a team with driver. He
went as the driver himself. When they reached
their destination. town a number Of miles
away, the stranger left him attend TO the
business which had brought him TO the place
They drove quickly away when the stranger
returned TO the carriage as he said he was in
a hurry. It developed afterward that the livery
mans patron was "A professional bank burglar
and that he had robbed institution in the
town to which he had been driven. The d.
rectors OF the bank put detectives on the case
They learned that the hotel keeper had driven
a stranger 10 the place the night OF the
robbery. The most prominent director. who
was the largest stockholder in the bank, re-
alizing that he would have TO bear a large part
OF the loss of 100000, decided 10 make an effort
90 secure the conviction OF the well-to-do hotel
keeper as one OF the criminals. His object was
20 put il within his power TO secure the prop
erty Of the young man partial restitution.
The innkeeper was brought TO trial and on
the strength OF the chain of crcumstantial evil
denco presented he was held as one OF the rob-
hers and his property was confscated He
managed TO escape from custody. and a reward
was placed upon HIS head. He came to New
York and obtained employment in Stewards
store A friend CHANGED 10 visit the store and
recognized him. Fearing that the temptation 10
secure the reward OF 81 600 would prove stronger
than the bond of friendship. he Immediately left
the store His surnlise was correct. for the
former friend reported the discovery by tele-
graph. He finally decided that he might as
well become a fugitive from Justice If he was
TO be fugitive at all. and he became a burglar.
LITERAL JUSTICE LEAGUE.
'Tf the law was always just in operation there
would be no need for courts Of equity" said the
counsel OF a society formed in 1885 for the pur-
pose of securing justice for those who are suf- |
'Se,ing from errors IN Judgment arising from one
cause CT another Even the courts OF equity |
son we have called our organization the Literal |
Justice League. We seek exact Justice the |
merits OF the case. wherever an injustice has |
been done. either through failure of the terms !
OF the law TO meet the conditions OF the case or
miscarriage Of justice"
From the records OF this little known organi- |
cation. which include the details OF perhaps a !
hundred cases which it has investigated. ac- |
cording TO officer, it IS evident that the IN |
nOcent sometimes suffer for crimes of whose
commission they We're ignorant: that punish |
ment does not always fit the crime: that homi-
eide committed in self-defence sometimes is
punished as if il were done maciously; and
that the criminal law in this country is some
times turned into an instrument for the accom-
plishment Of the purposes Of an enemy or the
satisfaction Of personal vengeance.
Ignorance OF rights on the part OF the victims
oftentimes is their undong. Unaware Of their
right TO have counsel at the expense OF the state
men who have no money have had improper
defence, ana have been sent 10 prison for long
periods. Perjury sometimes is responsible for
their plight. In some cases the color Of his /
skin is accepted as evidence damaging 10 the
oefendant when the accused person happens 10
b. a Negro
The story OF German youth. eighteen wears
oid' who thought he would like adventure con-
nected with army life in time of war and came
n
listing in the United States cavalry IN the war
with Spain, illustrates how a man NAV suffor
rom circumstential evidence when in absolute
ignorance OF his connection with a crime He
had been in this country only few days when
he CHANGED TO meet in a New York restaurant =
clever person who spoke German They fell
into conversation and the young fellow told of
hts desires and his fear that his lack Of knowl-
edge Of English would make It difficult to secure
enlistment.
q, too, wish TO enlist" said the stranger
across the table. I'VE viii go together l will
show you We VIII go to Washington. There
SIS the best place TO enlist"
CAUGHT IN TRAP.
They started for washington. Before reach
ing Baltimore, however the glib stranger said
fhat he had learned that Washington was
crowded with men desiring to serve, and they
would stand better chance in Richmond
They therefore went to Richmond on their
arrival there room was secured, and they
Went out 10 eat. The newly found friend said ! ,
ne knew two sisters living in Richmond and
they would call them. one was married. he ,
SAID so they would have TO some caution
AS they approached &he neighborhood after
oark where the women were supposed to be Iiv-
Ing the innocent young German was directed 10
wait around the corner while the ground was
reconnoitred 10 determine IL the husband was
al home In a little while the man returned =
with a bundle under his arm. He said the bus- !
Dand was expected home at any moment They
were 10 postpone the call until the following
evening The bundle. he explained. contained
some clothing belonging to the married woman