The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-08-28


One might suppose that such a bur
lesque Of law and sense as was afforded
by the Thaw trial could not be repeat
ed on the same boards for q generation
without danger to the 'perpetuity Of
the government" permitting such abuse
of It's authority, If these things occur
red under a monarch we would expect a
revolution because no decent people
could submit to such mockery of their
most vital interests. When Dreyfus
was undergoing his crucifxiOn and res
direction we could not understand how
the government that permitted such
scandals did not rise and fall with them.
How many Of us stop TO inquire why
the State Of New York need expend a
million dollars to convict a man who
slew another in a crowd and has never
denied that he fired the fatal shot? The
accused was a rich man when the trial
began and his family was rich; now he
is bankrupt and his mother poor. Can
we give a decent explanation why these
things are so? But IL is said that Thaw's
case was an unusual one and the author
tiles as well as the people may have
grown hysterical.
Now comes a case that will more
than duplicate Thaw's in revolving de-
tails and threatens to cost as much in
money and reputation to the State. An
officer of the army finds a citizen sit
ting in boat and shoots him repeated
ly. Witnesses see the act and the Ac-
cused does not deny in. But the de-
PENDANT belongs TO family of influence
"a nd q - 81
the army and he and his wife have
scandalous tales TO tell about each other. |
The State officials demand a large sum
Of money for the prosecution; the de- /.
PENDANTS family are borrowing all they
ian for lawyers and witnesses and ex- /
perts. 1t is not too much to predict |
that the State will spend half a million I
10 convict Hams, and his family will /
itself.
We do not deny that the State should
deny the money needed to do justice, /
but why should more than five hundred
dollars be needed. We do not deny that .
the family should be allowed every eff |
fort to save the accused, but why should /
The rulings of the court open the gates ,
70 wide as to permit the expenditure of .
more than the fee of the lawyer and a /
few like expenses for the transporta.
lion Of witnesses and the testimony of /
Ine or two experts? To say there should ,
De no limit is TO deny equal treatment
Tor the poor man who has not the money |
% spend and yet should have as good a /
standing at the bar of justice under the .
same circumstances. III one laborer had |
killed another under the same circum- |
stances as those existing in the Thaw
)r Hams case, how much would convic- .
lion cost the State and how soon would .
he defendant 90 to the death chamber |
And yet the life Of the poor man should
De as carefully guarded in an American
court as that Of the richest.
Already we hear that Hams must not |
lang because he is an officer Of the
army. Let this plea avail and the army
will soon lose the love of the country. |
An officer was condemned to hang for
murder not long ago. but there is no
proof that the sentence was executed.
Lieut.. Brown, in the Philippines killed
! defenseless PHILIPPINE in cold blood;
lis brother officers rendered a verdict
II guilty and sentenced the murderer to
ne penitentiary, but President ROOse-
,elt interfered and committed the SEN
ence to the loss Of rank and a deduc-
ion from the pay for nine monthsl
Does anybody believe that the Hams
.ase will be viewed as it would be IL the
defendant was not an officer? 1t is still
he American doctrine that an official Of
he government owes allegiance TO law!
Does even Congress, representing the
he people, insist that the law should be