The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-26

y
or corporate. or any Individual per-
| son, or to deceive any officer Of the
| association, or any agent appointed
| 10 examine the affairs Of the assO-
| citation: and every person who with
j like intent, aids or abets any officer
| clerk, or agent in any violation of
this section shall be deemed guilty Of
SPEEDY JUSTICE.
One of the chief characteristics o.
good government is the sure and
speedy administration OF Justice. No
government can long endure, or ought
to long endure, under which the Grim
tnal is not speedily and certainly pun
ished. and the innocent as speedily and
certainly acquitted and protected.
Laws are nacted for the protection
Of the lives, liberty and property of
the citizen Penalties are prescribed
for their violation, that this protection
may be assured Every good citizen
Withholds his hands from the infiic-
ton Of punishment, and appeals to
the courts to right his wrongs and to
enforce the laws enacted for his pro-
lection.
The integrity Of nation and the
peace and freedom Of its people de-
pend upon upright answering en-
forcenent of the law However much
may be done by philanthropy and
there still remains dire need for the
certain punishment Of crime when
ever it lifts its head g8inst a COM
nunity or an individual. It is to the
courts that the people look for this
protection. and if the courts fail in
their duty. the law itself is brought
into disrepute and confidence in all
the Institutions Of government Is
dangerously shaken.
There are wholesome indications
that American thought has awakened
to the Importance Of This principle
In every part of the nation and not
ably mOng he mem heTS Of the bar it
self there is a, growing insisterCe that
legal machinery be freed from those
teChnicalities which serve no neCes-
sary or rightful purpose but merely
tend to delay or defeat the ends OF
Justice
q, more earnest demand that the spirit
Of the law he given a clear path and
that no offender whose guilt IS proved
be suffered to escape. This IS an eTt-
denCe Of social progress and the de
veIopment of q keen social conscience.
this regard IS inexpressibly solemn.
Their duty to the law whose high min
listers they are and to society which
has esta bHshed them as its great pro
teCtOrS demands that they VouChsafe
to everyone who comes before them a
trial that is impartial and dispa sston-
ate.
Thus, only can justice, which is
the end of government and the one
foundation on which human rights
and progress can endure be preserved. !
Thus only, can the courts measure up
to the sacred principle to which they
are dedicated.
LAND ENTRIES.
Another Offense which may be call !
ed to your attention is that Of fraudu-
lent land entries. The homestead law
is a wise and benefiCent provision Of
congress. giving to worthy citizens of
the United States a portion of the |
public lands on which TO settle after !
prescribed time of residence, to ac-
quire home for his family at 4. nomi- |!
nal sum.
The great demand for timber that |
has grown with the development of |
our state of recent years has bean an |
incentive to make and procure false |
entries and to Stubborn perjury en-
tries. thus frauduIently dtVesting the |
government of large areas of public !
domain which was intended for home
stead entry.
The law visits severe condemnation |
on such acts and grand juries should !
be diligent in ferrettng out this char
acter of offenses against the law and !
in bringing the guilty person or per- |
sons to speedy punishment.
SEVERAL GASES TRIED.
Several indictments were returned !
during the afternoon by the grand |
jury and a number of cases disposed |
of. either by pleas of guilty or trial |
by jury.
Henry Horsler. Jr.. indicted by the
grand jury on the charge Of emoez-
zIing over $4,000 from the Citizens and |
Peoples bank by which he was en-
pIoyed, was indicted and later entered |
a plea of guilty. He was sentenced |
to serve two years in the federal pen
itentiary in Atlanta.
John Mitchell, for breaking and en-
tering the postoffice at Century, was
sentenced to thirteen months impris
onment at Atlanta Several small /
fines were imposed on coIored defend
ants for minor offenses-