Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-04-21
THE CLOSED TRANSACTION

Attorney General Wickersham, late of Wall street, has told the beef packers that he does not want to sec tham pros ecuted for secret railroad relating, be- cause there is no proof of criminal in tent on their part.
 The fact that the Big Four" Chi cago beef companies have already bsen covicted of similar offense does not imply guilty knowledge this time.
 The fact that the beef trusts high priced lawyers made that very defense of "lack of intent'' and carried it to the United States supreme court does not imply any guilty knowledge as to the second offsnse.
 The legal axiom that even in first of- lenses Ignorance of the law excuses no man. is we'll enough for pickpock- cts, but not for members of Chicago's s millionaire society set. Anyhow" says Wickersham, "no public service would be rendered by making test case of past transac- tions.''
 Bless his heart, he couldn't make a test case if he wanted to. These same people have been arrested for the same thing, tried, convicted, appealed up and up to the United States supreme court, found guilty in deed and in intent and fined and the fine paid. What for7 For beating the public by means of rebates. No, indeed, there can be no test case at this time.
 Let's see how this rule would work in police court:
 Prosecutor--So you beat your wife while you were drunk, did you?
 Prisoner-Yes, sir, but didn' mean to hurt her and didn't know that it was against the law. {, Oficer-But he was arrested last week for the same thing and gave the judge the same talk and it didn't go and he was fincd-for the same thing.
 Prosecutor-But he says he didn't in tend to break the law, I think no pub lie service would be rendered by making test of this case. Prisonar-Thank you kindly. I'm going right home to tell my wife. I know shell be pleased. "And,'' says Wickersham, 'It's no use fussing about past transactions. '' Sure! If the beef trust has had rebates and has the money in the bank, what 8 the use of fussing2 The public has been "frisked" by rebates, but it's a past transaction.
 Let's sec how that would work in DO. lice court:
 Judge-You are charged with pocket picking.
 Prisoner-Yes, sir, but I was all done when the cop pinched me. Judge-where is the purse you took
 Prisoner-In my own pocket. Judge-Well, then, that's an end of it. This transaction is closed. onicer you may drop in and tell the man who used to own the purse that this gentle. man has it. Also you might be more careful in tho future. We do not punish past transactions in this court, and here are few rules for you to follow: i Don't arrest man for drunken. ness when he is drunk; arrest him while he is sober, so the jag won't be pas, transaction.
 | Don't arrest a burglar after he has burgled. Go get man who has neve, burgied, so the burglary will not be g past transaction.
 Don't arrest anybody who has done anything, for things that have been done are past transactions. We mus! only punish for crimes that have moi been committed or that are not quite fin ished. trust make myself clear7'' 1 Offcer-The trust is clear, your honor, corfne my arrests to teething babies in the future, sir. -------------- l .~a At A s~