The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-28
THE STAR CHAMBER


AZ First Ita Objects We're Laudahls.
but Il subsequently became 4 Cruel
and Unjust Power-some 81 Ets Ous-
raeeoua Penalties.
When the Earl Of Richmond had
defeated Richard Ell. at Bosworth and
had been crowned king as Henry VII.
be found the times Ia so troubled 8
state that men whose rights were In
fringed upon or denied them dared not
apply for justice to the ordinary courts
The unblushing manner In which
brlhes ana threats were resorted TO by
those that had influence over the pro
ceedings Of these courts denied to them
the security Of Jurors oath.
To reach mischief that had grown !
30 lntolerable Henry IeeIIng himself
strong enough with his second parlia
ment created a court made up Of
the highest officers Of the kingdom.
embracing, theoretically, the king him
self who was considered the author
Of all justice, to which We're conhded
unlimited power and discretion over q /
large. underlined class OF offenses, many
Of which were Of a political character,
without the restraint Of jury and
subject to no revision by appeal
This was afterward known as the
court Of the star chamber, SO called
because the ceiling Of the room in
which It met was studded with stars
or because in this apartment prior to
the time Of Edward l. the contracts
Of the Jews, called STAIRS, were de-
posted ia boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results at first
Wealthy landowners who had op-
pressed their neighbors with inpunity
were brought before this court where
neither fear nor favor could avail. and
fried for their offenses The greatest
merit Of the court was that it was not
dependent Oh a jury, for juries were
unable or unwilling TO render verdict
4 In keeping with their eonsciences.
One said. "a court thus constituted
with powers SO broad and discretion
unlimited by prescribed rules, though
called into existence for wise and salu-
tary purposes, was In the end Ike In
voking tie spirit Of mischief without
i a corresponding power in reserve to
lay 1t or check it's excesses if inclined
to abuse its authority"
Instead of losing power as the neces-
sity for its existence passed away It
drew to itself new elements Of strength
and enlarged the extent Of its iuris0ic
ton. II became. after successive nd
mlnistrations under the hands of am
bilious leaders such as fourishcd in
the time Of Henry VIII, ElizaDeth and
tie two stuarts, q most potent engine
Of despotic rule and' intolerance Tor.
ture. intimidation ana other devices
were used 10 compel tlc accused to ill-
criminate himself
Charles l., through the star chamber
filed his Golfers. During bis reign such
enormous fines We're imposed for triy-
ial onenses that the audience gathered
about the courtroom al 3 O'Clock ia tie
morning to secure seats TO hear the
proceedings. The discretionary power
Of the court In the way Of punishment
made IT means Of cruel injustice in
the hands Of bad men. instances Of
which disgrace the history Of its ad
mlnistration during the reigns Of
James |. and Charles /.
One Of tie most remarkable cases
was that OF Bishop Williams. who had
been lord keeper OF the seal, popular
prelate and a man Of learning and
: spirit and at one time q special favor
tie Of James While enjoying his pat.
ronage he exerted his influence IN be
half Of Laud afterward archbishop
who owed his first promotion to his
good offices. Some disagreement arose
between them. Nothing would satisfy
q Laud but the ruin OF the man who
had befriended him
On some slight pretext the bishop
was brought before the star chamber
and fined 10000. committed to the
Tower during the kings pleasure and
suspended from Office His furniture
and books were levied upon to pay thl
ine. Among some refuse papers wers
found some letters from 0baldiston, ;
schoolmaster. directed 20 the bishop. Il
these letters the writer spoke Of 1
'little great man" and in one place O
a elittle urchin." AS Laud was small
Of stature, 1t was eonjectured tina
r these terms referred to him. The.
were both tried, one for receiving suel
scandalous letters and the other 70
writing them. Williams paid a fine o
5000 and Obaldiston $4,000. and b
a had his ears nailed to the pIIory.
Prynne, barrister at law. Of Lin
coins Inn, a Puritan OF the strictes
e sect. published his famous ~Histri
Mastix." a huge volume Of 1000 quart
pages, aimed at stage plays. nusi
dancing. public festivals, Christina
sports. bonfres and maypoles For tai
= alleged libelous volume be was arraigr
ed before the star chamber.
Mr.. Prynne. IN his general sweep 70
bis historical Illustration or the mi,
chief Of frequenting plays. referred
Nero and spoke OF Flavius and other
who conspired against him for his Da
a example upon the magistrates and th
4 people. The chief justice from this Il
4 ferred that the author intended TO IL