The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-09-05
FRANK Z. HOWE, Editor and Publisher
Court Not Immune

selves above criticism when II chances
that small minds occupy the bench
but In Canada Il appears that even the
highest courts and court officials are
sometimes the object OF the most open
and fearless condemnation. The FOL.
lowing Is from the Toronto Globe:
Justice In Ontario needs a tonic.
Scarcely a day passes without COM
plant against some slackness on the
part OF the officers OF the law or some
weak handed laxity on the part OF the
Bench Yesterday II was man with
record who was released ON suspend
ed sentence. although guilty OF brut
al offence Last week complaint was
made that confessed counterfeiters
were delt with after the easy manner
OF mere yenial offenders. Not long
ago man who played fast and loose
with his obligations as an agent was
given a certificate OF character from
the Judge which any honest man In
court might have coveted. A man who
pleaded guilty to one OF the darkest
crimes IN the calendar. and whose OF
fence was initial To brutal murder.
was set free. with the Judges remark
that he had no doubt suffered In his
feelings and his business: and his
partner In crime. against whom the
prima facic evidence Of blacker guilt
was doubly strong. was adroitly given
undersigned immunity by being made
an absolutely unnecessary Crown wit.
ness. A dozen other instances might
be- cited illustrating a wide variety Of
what the plain man regards as com.
promise with crime on the part OF the
officers Of justice.
And the man In the street IL begin.
ming 10 talk out When he sees a
deal" arranged by which the ends OF
Justice are thwarted. aud that. too.
under the very nose Of the Judge. or.
worse still. behind his back. the maies-
" Of the Law IL degraded In his eyes
and his confidence In Canadian justice
II shaken. And n the average man
comes 10 suspect the straight going In
eyitableness OF justice or to question
the integrity and devotion OF the Law
officers Of the Crown. damage Is done |
90 the life Of the nation which no ma
tcrial prosperity can make good
In restoring and maintaining the
tone OF justice the influence Of the |
Judges II Of capital Importance. II Is
90 the very great advantage Of Can
ada. and one Of the forces making for
righteousness. that In the main. by an
overwhelming majority. the judiciary
Of all the Provinces has been marked
by ability Of the highest order In the
profession and by the integrity Of char.
acter above suspicion. And the Min.
lister of Justice has no more sacred re-
sponaibllity than II involved In the ap
polntment Of men 60 the bench and the
maintenance Of the judiciary free from
the touch Of politics or the marks OF
incapacity or the slack hand
OF almost equal Importance Is the
obligation Of the attorney general In
relation 10 the magistrates. the crown
attorneys aud the provincial detective
force. The magistracy n In many ca.
SEES more vital 90 the everyday inter
eats Of Justice than even the judicial
positions In the superior courts Il
touches life nj n hundred points. OF
ten the rights OF citizens and the
course Of Justice itself are dependent
on the Intelligence aud integrity Of the
magistrate. The remuneration Of the
Office IL often meagre. and for that
reason ~ dignity should be the more
carefully guarded The crown attor
ney who can be- bullied By a politician
or bribod by a man Of wealth or doped
by social influence. or who IN not keen
for the punishment Of evil doing. II
himself friend Of crime and ought
not 10 be- In the service Of the crown.
Aud because the work Of the detective
81 itself suspected by many honest PEG
pie and affords unequalled opportunity
for graft. the attorney general ought TO
take for granted the absolute and un.
faltering integrity Of no one Of his ON.
GERS A detective IN the service Of the
crown has Il 10 In his power 10 side
track justice aud sell out the law that
with the aid Of skilled counsel for the
defence he can secretly thwart the de-
lection and just punishment Of crime"