The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-19
The Idiotic Indictment.


Murder has been written of as fine
art, but it remained for the United
States to treat 1t as a sport. In many
of the states an indictment for murder
contains nearly enough words to fill a
column of this weekly, and sounds like
the conversation Of an idiot. Here is a
sample:
THAT the said j. F. G., = certain pis-
tol then and there charged with gun
powder and leaden bullets, which said
pistol he the said J. F. c., then in
there in his right hand had and held
then and there unlawfully, purposeIy
and Of deliberate and premeditated
malice, did discharge and shoot off to,
against and upon the said F. NJ, with
the intent aforesaid, and that the SAID
J. F. G., with the leaden bullets afore-
said, out Of the pistol aforesaid, by
the force of the gunpowder aforesaid,
by the said J. F. G., then and there
discharged and shot of as aforesaid.
him, the said T. M, in and upon the
upper right side of the back OF him,
the said r. NJ, then and there -
This isn't as idiotic as it looks, how
ever. 1t is part of our sporting theory
of justice, which makes q murder trial
a game of skill and finesse between
opposing counsel. BY the slightest de-
Walton from statutory form one side
may lose the game. Convictions for che
most abhorrent crimes have repeatedly
been set aside because of trivial YER
Dial omissions III the lnQlclmeQI~
Had the murder referred to in the
above quotation occurred in Canada
the indictment would have read simp-
ly: 1.-THE Jurors of our lord the king
present that ]. F. c., on the sixth day
of August, one thousand nine hundred
and eight, at the city of Winnipeg, in
the province of Manitoba, murdered +.
NJ" Canadian procedure concerns it
self with the murder; ours, in many
jurisdictions, concerns itself with the
10
punished or net being a secondary con-
sideration.-Saturday Evening Post.
His Years Defeated Diaz.
1t was his years. more than any
thing else, which defeated Diaz. And
Limantour and his Cientihcos are
younger men. They have not fallen in
the vale Of years. They are young,
they have gold without limit; they are
used to bribery and corruption. Were
Madero, 1 should watch these gentry
and never place myself within their
reach, never give their treachery an
opening through which to strike. And
most Mexicans. even though they have
been federals and fought against that
leader on fields of battle and politics.
have no fear of Madero. He is honest.
they are honest. They and MAdaro
have but differed as men differ, and
he has won.
Madero and these honest supporters
of Diaz will find no difficulty in com
ing peacefully together. They can trust
ore another. Their purpose was and
still Is the same-34exico and the liberty
and betterment OF people. They have
as stated, differed, but only to a meth
cd. never as to an aim. Madero can
agree with these honest opponents. To
day in proof of it he released Navarro
called his officers, and made them as
free as himself But Madero cannot
proceed on his lines OF frankness and
honorable trust with Lirnantour and
his Cientificos. II half be true that's
told, the first act OF the Madero gov
eminent will necessarily be to collect
and punish Limantour and his circle,
not for opposing him, Madero. in tho
field and at tho council table, but fer
what pillagings, graftings. they have
been guilty OF against the people at
Iarge.-A1fred Henry Lewis, in the New
York American.