New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-04
TIE PUBLIC DEFENDER
Loyal Aid Society Considered suf-
fcicnt IN This City.
tor o. Tn. Tribune.

To tho Editor OF Ths Tribune.
Sir. IN opposition 20 tho Public Defender
project;
We have in this city most efficient Legal
Aid Society, supported by voluntary oontri-
buttons. with charter power In the city TO
contribute thereto 20 tho extent of $4,000
psr year claws 1907, Chapter 6S0). which
power has 90 far not been exercised.
statutory Public Defender on tho Los
Angeles model would be legally bound TO give
a ,trenuous and technical defence TO each and
every ono charged With any crime OF misds-
rneanor who demanded that tho Public De-
fender act ss his champion. 10 IL expsdient
20 champion at the public expense every red
handed mslefactor, every professional erin
inal, as we'll as every violAtor Of tho city
ordinances, the sanitary code, the building
code and tho tenement house law
William H. Taft In his address before the
Civic Forum Of New York City on April 20,
1908. said:
"And now. what has been tho result Of tho
lax administration OF criminal law In this
country? Criminal statistics are exceedingly
difficult. 70 obtain The number Of homicidss
one can note from the daily newspapers, tho
number Of lynchngs and tho number OF exc
BUTTONS. but tho number Of indictments, trials,
convictions, acquittals or mistrinls IL Is hard
20 find. Since 1885 IN tho United States there
have been l8l.95l murders and homicides,
and there have been 1855 executions. In
1883 the number Of murders was SOB In
1904 IL had increased 10 S,4e2. The number OF
cxocu.ionp in 1855 was los. In 1904 II was
116 This startling increase In the number
Of murders and homicides az compared with
the number Of executions tells the story. AS
murder Is on the increase, 40 are all offences
II the felony class and there can be no doubt
that they will continue 70 increase unless the
criminal laws are enforced with more GER
tainty, more uniformity, more severity than
they now are"
Josiah Strong, ("soc,sl Prosress,' 1900,
page III: number Of murders and homicides
in the United States since 1889 gives the
statistics referred TO by Mr.. TAFT
Moorfeld Storey ("Reform Of Legal Pro-
cedure. 1869 gives similar statistics
According 70 the World Almanac for 1910
page SOC; 1912, page 33S, and 1911, page 8So.
title Statistics Of Homcides," 95 per cent OF
murderers in Germany were convicted as
AGAINST $40 per cent Of murderers In the
United States convicted. In short 90 per
cent OF German murderors are convicted as
maDumitted, according 10 the World Alma
mac.
The Public Defender Is called for by the
plank IN the Socialist national platform de-
handing "the free administration Of justice.
In Los Angeles during the first ten months OF
hie administration the Public Defender APP
reared in 352 criminal cases and received
G.7l5 applications for assistance in civil mat
ters.
Would II be FOR the public interest to give
every person with tancied grievance, every
professional litgant and every sorehead the
legal right to the free prosecution Of any and
every civil action they might care 70 bring?
Would it be for the public interest to give
every person desiring TO hinder or delay his
creditors the legal right TO the free defence
Of any and every civil scton against him?
HENRY A. FORSTER.
New York. May 20, 1915.