The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-04-25
HUMAN LIFE IS TOO CHEAP.

HUMAN LIFE 10 49,
On Monday, April p, His Honor, W,
Rlackman. Judge of the District Court
at Alexandra, in addressing the grand
iurv on the selling Of liquor without
license. violations OF the Sunday law
slot machines and gambling, the work
ing of the public roads and the criminal
expenses, said:
Society is required 10 bear this bene-
FIT for its own protection. but the loose
way in which juries discharge their du-
Ties refusing 10 enfirce the law III homl-
eide cases, is lamentahle, and human HE
is too cheap. There seems to be little
fear of the law by many, because the
net,t ;uries fail to convict. Almost any
kind of an excuse is received as JUST
6cation for taking human life. Perjury
too. the most prolific source of crime, IS
INDUCED in to degree that IS disgust
ing. and the juries seem TO be unable or
unwilling to distinguish between truth
anu IdiStiOOu VI IIoil iildthiih SSii''
ment against Furnishing the violators OF
the law They turn loose a large ma
iority of those who fight and STAY and
commit murder or inanslaughter, and
thus bring into contempt and rldicule
the law and endatger the peace and
good order of society. Just how this is
Ia be changed do not see unless some
method is adopted for selecting class
OF citizens for jurors who are capable,
and who will fearlessly and faithfully
discharge their duties and enforce the
law without fear or favor"
Unfortunately this condition is not
restricted and prevails alarmingly not
only in this but in other States and is
traceable to the Indifference of the peo
pie in the enforcement of the law; to
the evasion OF jury duty by class of
<eitizens and to the devious processes and
tesllnicalities which favor the acquittal
Of criminals.
While sentimental juries may be held
accountable for this encouragement of
crime, courts can not escape merited
criticism, nor brush aside the response
hilities arising from the contempt and
the ridicuie OF the law, especially when
il is plain that perjury is being commit
ted deliberately in the interest of the
prisoner at the bar If perjury is pro-
life Of crime, the perjurers should not
be permitted to leave the court room in
which he has testified, but should be
held amenabie, arrested instanter and
jailed, and on conviction assigned the
sul limit of the law by Imprisonment at
hard labor in the penitentiary
Il will not be gainsaid that in the
court is vested power which, if exer-
clsed nationally, would have very bene
fetal effect on Jurors inclined to liberate
a criminal who has failed to disprove
his guilt While it is true that some
citizens are inclined to avoid jury duty,
no citizen, unless base in morals, desires
to stand discredited by court for his
failure TO respond to the law and the
evidence and would stamp the approval
of well done by the acquttal of red
handed murderer.
Aud the law to command respect must
be enforced rigidly but fairly. irrespec
live Of the social standing OF the politi
cal influence of the individual on trial
for violation of the statutes.
When the courts, which include the
judge, the district attorney, the sheriff
and the attendant officials, shall exer-
else their influence 10 betterment of
present conditions, then will follow the
faithful discharge of duty in the en-
forcenient of the law without fear or
favor, and then human life will possess
some yalue-at least human life will not
then be as cheap as it, is now
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