The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-29
SWAMI AIMS TO END
LONG TRIAL DELAYS
Wants Laws Amended to <im.
plify the Procedure in
Criminal Cases.
WOULD SMASH "SY>rrI"

A simpler form OF %proccdu,o . c,r -.
nal cases is to be PROPOSE %. ~ re
Swami when 20 assume tho OFT ri.
District Attorney on January I !, vr
be his aim to have new laws rIg OF ,.,.
will end the long delays tha' a-e
frequent In criminal trial, As lri,a
OF the Court OF General Scse pus for a
number Of years he has observed ,.
cumbersome manner OF gc't.nr ac't,..
ants to trial.
One important change 10 rror.s,, o.
to simplify the form Of Ind. ,ircnt .,.
strip Il OF all its legal vcrb.tsc Io
would also have the law AMENDED q,
compel several defendants raNied IN ore
Indictment to be tried Jointly. Iuie-
the present law each defendant can ,,e-
to be tried alone IN the INatr {, A..
torncy or Judge of the court has !othlrs
to say about II. In consequence lors
DELAYS IN bringing defendants 80 TIL
frequently result. Discussing court p,o.
cedure Judge Swami said
Under the present jury system ora
week IL the minimum tire olnsrr Of
and in case n common Juror Is rci~.tI
on n technical error bv tho 'jal lu4e.
IL would be cause for reversal Of t'd-nc,.
although there might he no e-rots IN tie
trial OF the defendant himself fy- lie
crime on which ho was Indicted. The,
are occasions when knoc.Out' Qlcs.o-.
arc put and rep|roScn'a;Iv" C''slHt so,
to avoid jury duty on account ~ 81.
punishment endured BY them ~ long r..
hnement while the Jury ~ an !u1.-..
case is thus being obta.aed
"ln Massachusetts, or New ,'srsev ~,
practice would no: he tolerated. IN 81.
former state. FOR instance. ~" ir'y
try the case OF Lizzie Borden i7r g,
ALLEGED murder of her mot, r. WIS .
lcc.ed and sworn in less than q day"
Judge Swami ~ also ig favor 70
amending the state laws 30 follow -,
Federal practice of permitting mo-.
than one transaction 10 I've named
an indictment. \; present l" m.
specific crime can be charged md s
defendant 10 expected - answer tina, o-e
alone. If the law wei, changed 81.
Judge said he believed T. would r. o.
toward smasli!rs tho "pol'rc ry-'e1
which IS So often heard 0. f. Nov + ~'
on this topic he said
Although the Pc, u'i7n -7v to"o
ev!denc" of the collection Of '' 90 I'o,
lection money from many source H-,
one Specific instance NAV 10 ALLEGED ,
an Indictment and under tho rules H. -
system \ cas-. iron al,hi viii BE- prov
at the trial. whereas II rcreH'ol ,rs
~ graft were alleged and proven. ovp7
tho ready alihi could not 10" s'r, 'rNol -
each specific instance
'Syndicated crime cannot ~ ra.
under the present SyetcW. T. h-oabs
down and refuses to perform &c fl"e.
tions in the face of the organization ana
system of evil doors who arN wei a1.
vised IN advance how to cl0llc' m
operation with least chance ~ '0.yr-
ton"
II is the plan Of Judge Swan ar1
those with whom he Is WORKING ,o-
these reforms 10 change the law -
permit proof OF similar 'rarIU'io7s
whether they he contenpornr.Iu~ u- TO-
Under this general scheme ~ would "a
more easy 10 convict certain O. I.s,. -
criminals in this city. he says. ~. 'rf.
tiCularly referred to police Crtfcv
when discussing this ph1so 90 'Hr pa.
posed changes.
Eecause OF the complex 'ra'N.f -
permitting Jointly indicted j,'.r.i ...'
demand separate trials. tlder Sra-
says the Tonhs prison is o''o- ors-
crowded. II seven defendant Gt.-.t
demand scparat" trials. ~ l,'s' "a 'r..'
Is lost in dIsposinc 90 tho01 ava 'H.-.
no certainty of conviction .s ''a '-
proceed Thon, too. q w uo~ p r.
he accepted In order 20 afve y.'.
court time.