The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-07-06

No c~;urusica:.o. O: personal character
will &c published except ~ AZ: ADVERTISEMENT
ea:e-ca .: :hc ros:cs:ce i. Manning ~ Sec.
oud Cas- c.a:.cr
DELAYED JUSTICE WILL CREATE CHAOS.
The delays in meteins out JUS
tice TO those convicted OF crime
is giving the people much con
cern at this time. They are be-
coming restless under the recent
efforts tc battle justice. The
famous Jones case has been the
game for astute lawyers. who
spring from one legal defence to
another, to thwart justice beng
done. Of course, it is for the fees
they get that they are thus en-
gagged; they sell their talents for
a price, while the taxpayer is
helpless, and must bear the orunt
OF the cost.
It is true that every citizen,
high or low, rich or poor, is en-
titled to the protection Of the
courts, but when the courts have
considered their cause, and pas
sed upon its merits. It does
strike Us that there should be a
limit. In the Jones case, the de-
fendant was charged with the
murder of his wife, jury Of his
ccuntrymen said he was guilty:
an appeal was taken to the su-
preme court, and this court,
after reviewing the case. affirm
ed the verdict of the court be-
low, but the lawyers in the case
sought another tack, and peti-
toned a circuit judge to grant
another trial upca what they pre-
tended, after discovered evidence,
this had the effect Of delaying the
execution Of the law; the last
judge appealed TO found no
grounds to grant a new trial.
and so decreed. nevertheless, the
lawyers have given notice Of
another appeal to the supreme
court, which will have the effect
Of again continuing the delay.
There is no telling how, Or when
this convicted wife-murderer will
pay the penalty for the actroci-
ous crime he was convicted Of.
There was committed IN this
county a foul murder about one
and a half years ago, in which a
young man in the bloom Of his
manhood was the victim. jury
heard the evidence and pro-
nonnced the slayer guilty. this
case was appealed to the su-
prene court, and that body atfir-
med the verdict below. In the
meantime the execution of the
courts sentence of death was de-
layed for over a year. The con
victed man was brought into the
court where he was originally
convicted, but in this court his
lawyer set up the plea of insanity,
jury was empaneied to hear
the evidence, and it said the
defendant was sane, again SEN
tence of death was pronounced,
and now comes another harassins
delay, the matter through the
shrewdness of a lawyer, will
stand in suspense until the ap-
peal is heard which will take
probably six or more months:
ell the time the justice promised
is a farce.
When such a condition exists
can it be wondered that those
directly interested feel they are
not being given the protection
the law promises them2 And. is
it any wonder that people who
have been outraged should lose
faith in the promises of the law.
become desperate and want to
take the law into their own
hands? There is such a thing as
patience being overdone: when
those who have had one Of their
loved ones snatched from them
by the ruthless hand Of murder,
they have right to demand Of the
courts, justice. Where is the
blame to be placed for the mis-
carriages Of justice which are con-
stantly being enacted in this
State? Surely not with the juries,
because when the juries do their
duty, their work is upset by the
asscteness Of lawyers who are
paid to take advantage Of tech
nicalities that justice mag be
tawarsed. It is not with the court
officers, they are helpless, and
can only carry out the mandates
Of the court. Then where is the
blame for this state of affairs to
be placed: In our opinion, the
responsibility lies at the door Of
the lawmaking power, it is there
where the laws are made, which
give the openings and the op-
pcrtunities for the legal techni-
calities that work such havoc in
shwarting justice. In all OF our
lawmakinS bodies there is .
large percentage Of the legal
fraternity; these gentlemen are
constantly framing new laws and
amending Old ones, until the lay
members OF the legislature can
not keep pace with them. The
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