Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-10-27
Crime aad Sentiment.

Crime aad Sentiment
Il IS often asserted by laymen
they woald lot if they were ju-
crs in d murder case vote to
convict a man on circumstautial
evidence. This proposition will not
bar even = superficial analysis.
The greatest and most heinous crimes
more often than otherwise pre-sup-
pose the utmost secrecy in their
commission. Can any individual pos
ssing ordinary reasoning powers,
suppose that Il man being the culpr!t,
who murdered Mr.. and Mrs. COh'e,
- Rain ier, IN Thutstoa Co1aty, last
} .ly. would call by trumpet or other
wise neighborS together, to see him
paipetrate that horrible crime? A
man with criminal instincts is not
Inclined to commit such deeds IN the
presence Of eyc-witncsses. An indi-
vidua! acting on the idea that he
would only convict in case OF direct
evidence, II carried ont, the great
majority of atrocious crimes would
go unpublished; society would be dis
solved into its original elements,
anarchy would follow. Society pro-
tects itself through laws. These
laws are administered and applied by
tribunals, whose duty it is to see
that the rights of individuals are not
invaded, and on the other hand that
they may not be punished wrong
fully. If a great crime has been per.
petrated which goes unpublished, it is
a public calamity. A bad example
is furnished for all culprits. actual
and would-be, to commit crime. In
many instances mob violence has pre-
vailed in different portions OF this
country, because courts and juries
failed 70 perform the duties they owed
to the public. This right OF society to
protect itself By the safest and best
possible means is unquestioned. lies
at the very foundation OF our civil
lization. It frequently happens that
circumstantial evidence is of the
strongest kind; individuals may lie
or may be mistaken in narrating
their testimony, while it is otherwise
with facts. True. the chain is no
stronger than its weakest link, the
inculpatory facts should be proven
beyond all reasonable doubt. In
every criminal trial. it is too evident
the State is greatly handicapped, has
not one quarter of the chance pos
sessed by the accused. Juries con.
sist OF twelve individuals, in the
trial of causes in the Superior Court.
The verdict must be unanimous in
criminal cases, which is relic of the
past that may safely be dispensed
with in our present stage of civiliza-
ton. Why should we allow the opin-
ion of one juror. with a perverted
mentality. to cause miscarriage of
justice, simply, because it is accord.
ing to precedent? Yes precedent.
This word sounds with euphonious
profundity to the mind Of the aver
age lawyer. A precedent may be
found to sanction any wrong. Prec-
edents were found to sanction the
murder of Socrates and the burning
OF witches in Europe and America, o
few centuries ago.
In France, a majority of the trial
Jurors, in criminal prosecutions, pro.
nounce the verdicts, while in Eng.
land the verdict must be unanimous,
but her laws are not as complicated
as ours are. and the judges have
greater power in the matter of in
structing jurors and in the explana
ton Of the law and evidence; while
in this country it would seem the pre-
siding Judge is placed on trial in
stead of the accused. whose lawyers
try to trap him. Changes in this
respect ought to be made by amend
ing our State Constitution. Itmight
seem too abrupt to provide in muir
der cases. without reservation. that
a majority of the trial jurors may
pronounce the verdict until they
shall have deliberated q reasonable
time, say twelve hours. when the
Court in its discretion may direct
that majority shall be empowered
to render the verdict. Society, as q
body. should have some rights as
we'll as culprits, or accused persons,
that are entitled to respect. What
are we paying such high taxes for,
TO keep up such outgrown. and in
efficient machinery? The culprit has
no right to expect that at all times
in the stage-play, he should be con.
sidered the star performer.
LORToN PROJECTS HIMSELF IN MID.
AIR.-Eugene Lorton, q well-knowu
newspaper man and politician of the
State made an ascent in a Wright
. hiplane. at Tulsa. Oklahoma, with
aviator Bonney, and at an elevation
of 1000 feet, issued "a complete
miniature edition" of the Daily World
of that CITY,. Eugene cuts wide.
swath in whatever he undertakes.
The absurdity of the assertion that
he could prepare anything like a
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