Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-08

'S Uts o"u system, take ths
Coweta Circuit. It is composed NJ
the Counties of Merlwether. Cow
eta, Carroll, Heard and Troup Ar
OF them large and populous conn
ties, The Superior Court un6s,
the present system convenes rss
ularly every six months in each a,
THESE counties. Suppose a horni-
eide lie committed in Troup Conn.
ty immediately after the adtourr-
ment Of the August term. Thmn
is absolutely no person or sRencv
in the County to take charge q,
the States side Of the case for
period of nearly six months Ma
Grand Jury, no Solicitor no a.
torney. II a person Of wealth Z,
killed, his relatives will enplov
counsel to prosecute. but IN tbs
great number Of cases the 6ass
man was poor, and therefore M
counsel are employed. In The
meantime the defendant secure,
counsel. who diligently and Der.
sistently attend to his defenss
His counsel have more than Az.
months in which to prepare his
defense. secure evidence and taks
ell the necessary steps to bund up
an ironcIad defense for him. and
the State of Georgia has no one
to counterfeit one single move OF
the defendant The Solicitor
comes In February to attend to
all the accumulated business Of
the county. He has probably ten
murder cases, Has no time TO pre-
pare them for prosecution. Knows
none OF the facts until he reach.
ca court, gets the Grand jury TO
work and the witnesses are
brought to the Grand Jury. And
the result is that, however abs
and diligent he may be, he can not
cope with or meet the defense
which the defendants attorneys
have prepared after five months
persistent labor. No lawyer,
however capable and learned he
may be, can without prepare
ton compete with one Of mediocre
ability who has had ave months
preparation on his case. 1t Is
naturally so. It Ia tho same Old
story of the hare and the tortoise
in e different guise.
A County Attorney.
Does any business man. com
pany or corporation in the State
handle their litigation in such
manner. Imagine q railroad hay
ing a damage suit for $1,000 not
having its local attorney. Its law
agents and 1t general counsel all
on the case as soon as the injury
occurred. Think Of 1t waiting five
months before ever trying to Sc
cure evidence to protect its rights
Think of it even waiting FIVE
month before looking into the
case, and then sending some one
who does not know the influences
and surroundings Of the opposite
party.
Yet the State Of Georgia per
sistently pursues that policy, The
State is wilfully blind to the &C
tual facts. The State through
its own negligence is responsible
for that state Of facts to exist.
AND NOT THOSE HONOR
ABLE AND UPRIGHT JURORS
WHO RENDER VERDICTs UE~
DER THE EVIDENCE AID
DUCED TO THEM ON THE
TRIAL, AND WHO ARE UN
JUSTLY BLAMED FOR DOING
THEIR SWORN DUTY.
Then, what is the remedy It
is for the State Of Georgia to use
modern, buslnessliks methods
In prosecuting and enforcing her
laws.
That can be done by sboilshins
the system of Solicitor Genera
and the establishment in its stead
the office of County Attorney for
each county, whose duty shall DO
TO attend to all Of the business
Of the State IN his county. Al
tend all committal trials anu
handle the cases for the State or
Georgia from the time Of the per
petration of the crime until ma
Judgment Is had. He will be OF
the ground as soon as the de
PENDANTS lawyer If not earlier
he will be familiar with all L'7
influences which surround lhV
case; he will know the evidence
in the case; he will get on Ihs
trail while the scent Is hot ana
above all, HE CAN PUT AL
OF THE EVIDENCE FOR The
STATE BEFORE THE JURY
ON THE TRIAL OF THE CASE
AND NO ONE NEED FEAh
THAT THE JURIEs OF GEOR-
GIA WILL CONTINUE THEN
TO DO AS THEY DO NOW
RENDER vERDICTs UNDHH
THE EVIDENCE PREsBNF tL
TO THEM
This is on principle. The stat'
and each Of the counties wouo