Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-10-24


state primary Gov. Smiths re election.
Pull for Fitzgerald
Let's Find The Reason.
We have too many Migrants in Fitzgerald.
There is reason.
The Enterprise wants to find out that reason,
and with that deliberate purpose in view we have
undertaken an investigation and this is the first of
series of editorials ON that line. We have been
to the arrestsing officers starter, we find them
inclined to do their duty to enforce the law that
was put on the statute books to protect communi
ties like Fitzgerald against idle vagabonds. They
are more to be dreaded than plague.
We were astaunded to be told, that out of
more than hundred arrests more than three
convictions resulted In the face of the fact that
every man, lawyer, sheriff, judge and juror know
that the city is infested with more than it's share
of idle and dangerous Migrants.
1t has been suggested to us that there are two
obstacles in the way of putting to work and con.
victing on the county's highways the worthless
vagabonds.
One is the Jealous defense put up in behalf of
the defendants for a nominal fee from criminals
with the the worst reputation.
We risk the statement that an attorney can be
found who will defend one of these vagabonds for
FIVE or ten dollars involving as much work and at
tention as would be involved in case for which
they would charge the average citizen who is able
to pay hundred dollars
We write this knowing that some of the local
attorneys may take offense at the broad impeach-
ment, but truth demands that we stand by this
statement. We do not believe that it is contem-
plated that an attorney will accept services indis
criminately and vigorously defend we'll known
criminals and VIGOROUSLY bad character.
In the instance of one of the few convictions,
the case taken to the court of appeals cost
the county about fifty dollars to record and copy
the evidence This was the case of notorious
negro gambler who if frequently arrested for va
riouS offenses. 1t seems that the attorneys are
determined that no criminal shall be convicted. No
body doubts his guilt not even his attorney but as
to the matter of proving his quilt is anothtr ques.
ton and the william may be turned loose OH court
of appeals on technicalites to proceed with his
villiany and vagabondage.
We do believe that it is the duty of attorneys
to refuse the defence of these VIGOROUSLY worthless
criminals.
1t may be pleaded that where an attorney re.
fused fee from the defendant he would have to
take the defense, possibly without fee In
that we insist that he does not surrender his
rights to charge fee and in case is it his duty
to take advantage of techncalities and delay JUS
tice or defeat it. A lawyer may be bound in du-
ty to his client but he owes a duty to society as
we'll
There is another difficulty in the way of the
successful prosecutions of that class of criminals
that menace every sleeping household and every
store and place of business.
And that is the bondsman. The courts of
justice hindered by professional bondsmen.
Men who love to work semi slaves-quaSe convictS
They get to the jail after the negro is ar
rested as possible, advised him not to plead guilty
fix his bond and employ his attorney. Buy off
the states witness.
They call for witnesses that can not be pro-
duced and delay the cases, court after court with
the connivance of the lawyers that ought to know
better.
The Enterprise is against the whole scheme
and will make it warm for somebody perhaps some
personal friend before are done W it'll it.
FITZGERALD o Pun Out
Attention Voters.
The registrars anxious that
every legally registered voter in
the county shall have opportunity
to vote in the National election
November the 3rd.
If there are any who claim to be
registered whose names are not
upon the list, they are requested
to leave their names, stating age