The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-28
THE WRONGS WROUGHT BY
JUSTICE"
Reparatlon for Innocent Sufferers by
Legal Procedure.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: Pre-
sumably THE u has opened the door
for suggestions by publishins u y. y.
Growers letter inquirine What We
want to know about to-day II appears
tina, he has investigated widely and
discovered much. only to learn that his
inventions, important and valuable as
they we're. had all been previously
made by others. II | remember Alright
Solomon suggested the predicament MIR.
Grover has discovered. There Ia moth
ing new under the sun.
Nevertheless there is n problem in
jurisprudence the solution OF which. If
II shall ever he found, will he NJ In
calculable importance. but which has
thus far defed solution. some ~ the
ablest lawyers I have ever known tell
me they despair of its ever being found
though II has been sought Ions and
earnestly.
The problem itself is easily stated
In administering Justice IT is Of dailN
occurrence that persons suspected %
crime are arrested n lodsed in jail
pending Investigation Afterward II APP
pears that they are entirely innocent,
having no connection whatever with
the crime in question. Thereupon they
are discharged from custody and the
case so far as they are concerned Is
considered closed. But H. II?
have In mind one case which exen-
plihes passing well the injuries that
befall the innocent by reason Of this
procedure. IL differs from thousands OF
Others that occur constantly In that IL
was more glsringly iniqultous than
many others. The principle involved f.
the same.
\ man sat In the next room to the
one In which n female employee ~ his
was shot and killed one day not Ions
ago in this city. Because he WAS so
near the scene OF the crime. and for no
other reason. he was suspected Of muir
der and locked up.
After some months OF Incarceration
no evidence having been found to JUS
,ify even the suspicion. he was dis
charged. The case was considered
closed. but was It?
Before his arrest he was healthy and
fairly iosperous. with n good home and
a happy family. He Caine out Of the
Tonhs bankrupt and broken I'm health.
His family was scattered and his home
broken up. Practically he was a ruined
man. The state had not even given
him the vindication Of n trial AZ which
no would certainly have heen acquitted
So needless expense was avoided.
His arrest was undoubtedly justified.
Suspects must be detained. But II the
State. needing his property. lad 'ak.r
Il FOR public use he would have been
reimbursed IN full for his loss. Having
subjected him to the greatest suffering
and practically ruined his career, I,
make no preterce % rep1ration.
Such Is the problem which constantly
recurs In cases more or less serious. ac-
cord!ng to circumstances, hut all serious
as involving rights Of individuals.
The difficulties in the way ~ a solu-
ton seem TO a layman to be mostly II
not altogether technical ! leave u e.
the lawyers to explain them. | hav.
listened to their explanations without
being convinced. M they seem to be. tina
Il il ~impracticahle for the State TO make
reparat!on.
II Mr.. Grover will turn his attention
- this matter he may In what he says
he is looking for when he asks "Wha'
subject. II developed. or what field o,
Investigation. would be Of the most use
to man."
Surely there must ne some solution.
DAVID A CURTIS.
Nrw SOpH Yuma -