The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-12-03
FORMER JUDGE
c. J. ST. JOHN
ON OUR CRIMINAL LAW.
Would Let the Same Law Apply
to Carrying Pistol and as Now
Applies to Bowie-Knife.

In view of the fact that crime appears
TO be Enthusiastically on the increase in
Tennessee and the urgent need of legis-
lative enactments and amendments to
meet the demands of the situation,
Judge G. j. st. John, formerly judge OF
the courts of the First circuit of Ten
nessee, was interviewed by The Comet
correspondent, who sought his views
upon the needs of the state in this re-
gard, especially in view of the fact that
the state legilature is very soon to con-
vene. Discussing the subject, Judge
st. John said: sa
"Some four years ago read PARTICLE
before our State Bar association at Chat
tanooga, calling attention to the fact
that our efforts in suppressing crime
were unsuccessful, and that there was
great need of reforming our criminal
laws, with aiview to administering JUS
tice more effectively and without delay.
/ pointed out in that article the differ
ence in administering thecriminal laws
in this country and in England, and ]
suggested certain reforms which | be-
lieved would tend to suppress crime in
our state. i said in that article:
81 regretto say anything in the way.
e - iNor n OF frsa
tion of our laws. | have great conf
dence in the ability and integrity Of
our Judges; love the state; ! love her
institutions and her people. | know
that the great body of our people are
lawabiding; as good people as dwell
on earth. feel a pride on account Of
the wonderful progress Tennessee has
made in arts, education, mining, man.
ufacturing, wealth and in material de-
Velopment, but | confess shame and
humiliation when consider the num-
ber of crimes committee in the state,
and the number of criminals who es-
cape punishment"
Conditions are really worse now in
our state than they were at the time |
read that article. There has been no
change in our criminal laws, or the
method Of enforcing the same since
that time. 1t is quite probable, how
ever, that the legislature, which con-
venes in January, will make some
changes with view tomore effectively
preventing crime in our state. The
subject is one which deserves the most
serious condition by our people, and,
as one interested in better admins
tration of the law, wish TO make
some suggestions, whether they meet
with approval or not. The discussion
of the subject can not but result in good.
Challenges.
Under our law, a person charged with
a felony, punishable with death, is en-
titled to twenty-four peremptory chal
lenges, while the state has only six
This is an antiquated Law, derived from
England, and has long since been abol
ished in that country. The governor
in his last message to the legislature
recommended that this law be changed
but the legislature did not heed hi
recommendation Certainly no gooC
reason can be shown why the defend
ant should have twenty-four ciIalleng
es and the state only six. 1t has beer
suggested that it would be better Il
give each ten or twelve peremptor.
challenges. We ought to have a jur,
commission law for the entire state
which would result in the selection Q
better men for the juries and then ther
would be no necessity for SO man.
challenges on either side.
RedistrIeting the State.
We now have sixteen circuit judges
five criminal judges and ten ehancel
lors, making in all thirty-one judges
Some of our circuit judges have yer,
large circuits composed of from nine
twelve counties. They are very mucl
overworked. have thought that
much better system would be to ca
down the circuits to four OF five cour
ties and have one judge to hold bot
the circuit and chancery courts an
have four terms of court instead {
three. BY this system civil and Grim
nal cases could be tried much quicke
than under the present system, and tn
criminal laws could be much bette
enforced.
Nisdemeaner Cases.