Evening star., 1909-08-28
PROPERTY MORE SACRED
THAN LIFE IN ENGLAND
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

LONDON, August Is 1909
n UBLIC attention in England has
again been focused on the great
discrepancy between the treatment
OF persons who are convicted of crimes OF
violence against the person and that
meted out to those who have offended
against the sacred rights OF property by
the amazing treatment by a London mag
istrate the other day of burly ruffian
who half killed his wife. The man jump
ed on the woman's chest. blackened both
her eyes and broke her nose, but the
magistrate before whom he was brought
let him off with a fine OF s.. remarking
that he had no doubt that when he was
not rritated he was a pretty good sort
of chap"
Had this man been convicted OF stealing
a loaf of bread to keep his wife from
starving he would probably have gone
to Jail for a couple OF months. That.
however would have been crime
against property and would have been
dealt with sternly on the theory which
seems to obtain all through the admins
tration of English law that property is
far more sacred than life. The attitude
of some of the country justices of the
peace toward petty crimes against prop
erty has long been a scandal In England.
poacher who steals hare belonging to
the local magnate is likely TO be sent to
Jail for year or two. IL he half kills
companion in a drunken quarrel he is
likely to be treated a pretty good
sort Of chap" and let off with a small
fine or few weeks at most in prison.
This was accounted for by the fact
that the country magistrates belong as
rule to the propertied class They are
generally the local squires, and they feel,
naturally enough, that they must pro-
tect their own interests and those of their
class. In London and other large towns,
however, where the magistrates are
trained lawyers, there has not been such
glaring scandal. but the case just men
toned shows that things are pretty bad
all over England.
1t is quite likely, too. that the London
magistrate could justify himself by an
appeal to the letter of the law. English
law was made by those who own prop
erty. 1t is only within the last ten
years that the working class has had any
direct representation in parliament, and
the labor men have been too much occu-
pied in wringing concessions. for their
trade unions and for their class as a
whole from the ruling class to have much
time left for dealing with individual cases
like this For some time, however, there
has been demand for the reform of the
law dealing with aggravated assaults and
similar offenses, and it is likely that
when the budget and the pressing social
legislation are out of the way effort
will be made to deal comprehensvely
with the reform of the criminal law
1t is not so very long ago that theft
was punishable by death in England, and
apparently the Old vindictive spirit sliil
survives. A hooligan who half kills an
noffensive citizen and then beats up the
policeman who arrests him is pretty
sure of getting off with a few days or a
few weeks at most In prison. If in add-
tion to half killing the citizen he should
help himself TO the citinZens watch mis-
offense would then become robbery with
violence and he would go to jail for tive
or ten years.
The following list of currously incon
sstent sentences imposed for compare
lively trifiing ofrenses has been complied
by lawyer who is interested in bring
ing about a reform of the criminal law:
Sale of crabs under size, $10 and one
month if not paid.
killing game at unlawful times, So for
every bird.
Fraud in using gas. So and $40 a day,
and two months If not paid.
Sale of oysters in close season, $40 and
fourteen days IL not paid.
Unlawfully keeping petroleum, 800 a
day, the fine to be followed by distress.
and three months Imprisonment If not
paid.
Absconding from workhouse. one month
without option of fine; if fined. $25.
Not producing railway ticket on re-
quest. $40, followed by distress or one
month il not paid.
distress, one month.
Rod fishing without license. So. one
month.
Embezzlins tools In woolen and other
trades, three months without the option
of fine; If fined. $l25.
Not washing walls of bakehouse every
six months. $50 or two months.
Drunk on highway, $3.50.
IF this good sort of chap said this
lawyer, had been convicted of doing
damage to shrub or tree to the
amount only of % cents he would have
been liable to three months hard labor
without the option of a fine, and, II
fined. to one of S25 plus the damage done
.If he had done the damage to fruit
or vegetables in garden he might have
been Imprisoned with hard labor for six
months without the option of fine: or,
IL fined, he might have had 10 pay 80
plus the damage, with two months hard
labor IL he did not pay the fine.
IF he had injured Il dog he would
have been liable to a similarly severe
punishment. Even il he damaged fence
a S25 fine could have hsan in,nosad unOn
him T"