The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-08-19
Committee Regards Practice ~.
Reprehensibls and Should b
Prohibited By Law.
INNOCENT UITIZENs ARE
FREQUENTLY THE VICTIMS
Kidnapping Of Accused Persons s
Also censured By Senate
Committee.

senate adopted April by, lS4U. sen
ate Resolution No. 1856, ito inquire
into and report to the senate facts
as to- the alleged practice of adm1nis-
tering what is known as the third de-
gree ordeal, by officers or employees
.of the United States, for the pur-
pose OF extorting from those charged
with crime. statements and confes-
sions and also as to any other prec-
tices tending to prevent or impair the
fair and judicial ADMINISTRATION OF
the criminal law. This committee
reported to the senate, Aug. 4, 1911.
The committe report states (refer-
ring to the police of the District OF
EColumbia) in one instance q police
man Of the Metropolitan police force
was proved to have been guilty Of
gross brutality inflicted on an inno-
cent citizen, in an attempt to arrest
another citizen. This officer was
afterwards convicted and discharged
from the force In another part OF
the report 1t is stated these examin-
ations and investigations are carried
ment by detective agencies and by the
police forces in the different states
and municipalities. From the nature
of the case there is no witness to 1t
except the police officer conducting
the examination and the prisoner
himself, and from the nature Of the
case, convincing evidence Of brutality
would be difficult to obtain. What
ever may be the facts AZ to the al
legged administrations OF the so-called;
third degree" by. the police OF the
states and cities. in the opinion of
the committee, the, coueresa .o1 tho
JJn4fed~etatesafss1lr q llle e1ttnot1ty
ito leEislate ,concernipK the alleged
/ practice, except when it Is practiceds
by officers or employees Of the United
States. sa ss *s - = si
kidnapping Condemned.
The committee report stated that
the practice Of hurting accused men
from one state to another, without
giving: them an opportunity to be
heard, should be prevented by pro-
hibiting extradition until after the
lapse of certain number Of days,
or by some other effective plan. The
concluding portion OF the report Is
strong In character and Is as follows;
IF the court before whom theaper-
son charged with crime Is brought In
reality has no jurisdiction and tie
person is deprived OF any opportunity
to test that question, by reason OF
his hasty transportation TO, and cus-
tody In, q remote part of the United.
States he has, to all intents and pur-
poses, been kidnapped and such per-
son would seem to have been deprived
OF his liberty without due process
Of law. We therefore recommend to-
the consideration of congress-. whether.
congress cannot constituti tionally pros
vide some remedy against the pos
sibility Of injustice IN the execution.
OF extradition under clause 2 OF Sec
ton . OF article 4 Of the constitution
Of the United States, either BY pro-
viding that the person 10 charged
with crime shall not be removed from
the state from which he 10 brought
within e certain number OF days. +
thus affording him an opportunity to-
test the validity Of his arrest and
extradition In habeas corpus proceed
ings, or in some other manner il au.
thority for such other exists 2