The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-12-19

n occasion, CnaG their vision Is rare
ly raised three feet above their head
unless there is some unusual acruSti
demonstration. We are led, some
times, to almost think that the pee
pie OF Mississippi, and indeed a large
part OF u country are in som
respects like the animals mentioned
they have eyes and will not see
When we contemplate the grea
number Of hOmicides that are takiu,
place throughout the country ant
the serenity with which the situa
ton is viewed. 1t is said that tn.
soldier gets SO accustomed to carnage
and blood that he can walk Over /;
battle field on the bodies of his deaC
comrades and never even shudder.
Have the regard for the welfare OF
others and interest in the future OF
the children of the present become
oSsifed in our people? The frequency
OF the taking OF the life OF a Iellow
being can be stopped il the people
make up their minds that it shall
stop. Were we going to suggest the
real root OF the trouble, we would
name u cumbersome legal machine
ry and the slowneSS Of getting those
accused Of crime to trial together
with our very defective and bourbon
way Of selecting petit jurieS. The
law is a net work of tenichalities that
frequently entrapS n battles the
best legal talent. 1t was primarily
framed With the view Of protecting
the citizen against the edictS Of regal
power. But we have out grown that.
Still there is Il certain sort OF wis
com (?) or incompetence that CON
tinueS to amplify the technicalitieS
and increase the avenues whereby Il
criminal may escape the just deserts
OF his crime. Only the other
day the supreme court of Mississippi
reversed a decision of the lower court
because the accused happened to be
out Of the court room when the YER
dict Of the jury was rendered and
sentence was passed. This may be
law but it is a beautiful toying with
common sense. The very best Of our
jury laws tends to exclude competent
from jury service just tor a
moment think Of the probability, or
possibility, If getting d man, |
resides ia Davidson county Ten
aud who reads anything and
does not kermitiZe himself 10 try Ghe
COOpers charged with the murder Of
Ex-senator Carmack. The nan that
cannot read and write is, by law dis
qualified for jury service. Then ii he
read and has read. he is objected
10 for jury service. The fact that Il
man has read about a particular case,
although at the time Of reading be
may have formed an opinion of the
case, should not %diSqualify him for
Jury service on that particular case.
No, our criminal laws need to be gut
ted of their technicalitieS and the peo-
pie need to be aroused to the dangers
society and to the life OF the peace
owing and law-abiding citizen. A
Dose enforcement of the law permits
The pistol toter-one OF the greatest
sources of evil to e body politic-
,ives impetus t. the satanic senti-
nent which would justify every
rood citizen" in going around with an .
instrument hid in his pocket or uncer
lis coat tail that was made not for
Use in wal nor to Stay wild beasts but
O shed human blood. It is the rar- /,
st thing for a man to be way-laid t
nd assassinated or TO be shot by an !
Unknown person in these days, hence J
be pistol is not carried for the man :
hat lies in ambush.