The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-10-02
PROCEDURE IS SPEEDY
But NOT ALWAYS JUST
IN THE ENGLISH COURT
Presiding Officer Interprets, Questions,
Ayers, and lnstructs Witnesses
and Jury in Criminal
Cases.

London. Special: On Newgate
street stands the central crimi-
far n near as the Old Bailey. 1t is
an Imposing structure, which was com
pleted in 1905, and contains four very
fine court rooms, excellently lighted
and finished in oak and the building
has a very conspicuous copper covered
dome surmounted by a large bronze
figure Of justice. Over the entrance
the poor and punish the wrongdoer,"
and it is to be hoped that they are
as diligent In defending the children of
the poor as they are in Furnishing the
wrong doer. The building replaces the
gloomy and dingy old structure which
famous Old Bailey Of history and lit
erature. Here also stood the gloomy
old Newgate prison, which was demol-
fshed In 1908, and in from of which the
public executions formerly look place.
From here it is only a few rods to
~smithf1eld. where several hundred per-
sons were burnt at the stalk In the
reign Of Mary and Elizabeth. Across
h street is st. Sepulchre's church, one
of the bells of which was always tolled
on the occasion Of an execution at New
gate. 1t is a locality of gloomy sur
roundings and unhappy memories
which are somewhat relieved by the
fact that in ST. sepuichre's church
sleeps our Captain John Smith, some
time Governor of Virginia and Admir-
al Of New England"
AT the Old Bailey practically all Of
the crimes committed in the city of
London are tried, and 1t has been the
scene Of many a historic and interest
Ing trial. Here also Is where many of
tho c11ff1soc rnfo ire triad ~ ~oyoavnhar
that I had the impression when a child
that the Old Bailey derived its name
from being presided over by an elderly
Judge by the name of Bailey, but I
find that this is quite and
that the name is derived from the fact
that the original building stood in the
bailey, or ditch, Of the old city wall.
I am afraid that the very favorable
impression which I have formed Of the
English courts in general cannot be
made to extend to the criminal courts
and I am inclined to think that if I
could take all the people at home who
praise the English criminal courts, on
q session Of the Old Bailey that many
Of them might change their minds. I
was somewhat prepared for the Old
Bailey in Liverpool, when I first land
ed, by seeing a number Of defendants
accused Of stealing a few sacks OF
grain, denied bail upon their prelimin-
airy hearing, n mind you, these were
men who had not ever been indicted.
The sessions of the Old Bailey begin
at 1880 a. m, and there is always a
small crowd on hand at the public en-
trance.
DESTINATIONS Ceremony.
When the doors are opened you are
lined up and marched off in punches
to the various public galleries. The
h,1rIxy nn1inn,,,o ~, On 111fu Ctara of Won
and caution you against making a
noise, n one gets a little uneasy
with all this and wonders If he Is going
to play the part of the innocent spec
tator or that Of the defendant, in the
little drama that is to be played. /
gan to try to recall the name n adj
| dress of the American ambassador.
The court rooms are very fine rooms
and are well lighted and well Irnish-
ed. The judge, clerk and barristers
all wear wigs n gowns. the same as
they do in the law courts. Court opens
with great ceremony and the court at
. tendant gives a long announcement
which ends with God save the king
The defendant is brought into court
through a hole in the floor, and he
stand throughout the entire trial on q
raised platform called tn dock, sur
| rounded by police officers. All Of this
is done to show due respect for the
| court, to prevent the defendants es-
cape, and incidently the crown gets the
benefit of whatever prejudice all this
may create in the minds Of the jurors.
| The jury Is taken as drawn and at
| once sworn to try the case.
Then follows the opening statement
for the crown mad by the prosecuting
! barrtster, and then the crown calls its
! witnesses.
Defendant frios Own Case.
If the defendant is not able to employ
counsel the states does not furnish him
with an attorney except in exceptional
cases. Where the defendant is poor,
his own case n measure swords with
the learned and able barrister that rep
resents the crown, for "the children OF
the poor" are not provided with legal
counsel in their hour Of peril. h
puts the defendant at a great disad-
vantage for of course he has no legal
training, and often very little general
education, while his opponent Is q
skilled lawyer, and Their the defendant
is usually in Jail and a had little OPP
p~ortunity to locate his witnesses. WheE
q witness for the crown a testified
the defendant is permitted to cross
examine him. After the crown has
rested, the court explains to the de-
PENDANT that he may mak a statement
from the dock, or, that he may go into
the witness box and be sworn and tina
his statement would perhaps have moro
weight as he was under oath, but thai
If he went into the witness box thai
he must submit to cross-examination
After the defendant has testified, hs
may call whatever witnesses he may
have, and after they have testified tht
court instructs the jury orally.
In i%nstructing the jury the court doe.
not handle the evidence with gloves
4 lilra fhaxyE 10 of tho 1atry no,rrtC an tl,,