Evening journal., 1917-02-17
Grand Jurors TALK
OF PROPOSED bills.
Discuss Legislation While
Guests OF L. Scott Town
send at the dupont
MANY REFORMS
ARE ADVOCATED

Members OF the grand jury OF New
Castle county We're entertained at a
luncheon given by l.. Scott Townsend.
a member OF the body, in the grill
room Of the Hotel DUPONT yesterday
afternoon, and took the occasion to
endorse certain bills dealing with the
punishment OF criminals in this State
which have been introduced in the
General Assembly. and most Of them
reported favorably by the committee
on revision of statutes.
One bill includes the establishment
Of q commission on capital punish
ment to investigate all phases OF Grim
inal punishment and to report back to
the General Assembly Of 1919, the
commission to be established by joint
resolution of the General Assembly. to
consist Of five nen, with at least one
member from each county.
The second bill provides that II a
jury sitting in a murder case shall
recommend the defendant TO the
mercy OF the court after finding him
guilty OF murder in the first degree,
the court shall impose life imprison-
ment as II the jury had found the de-
PENDANT guilty OF murder in the sec
ond degree. This permits the jury TO
make a finding according to law and
yet not necessarily place the defend
ant in a position OF being punished by
death
The third bill makes a distinction be-
tween grand and petty larceny, the
taking of property from a dwelling or
other building of value of $40 or more
or any taking Of property to the value
OF 500 or more. constituting grand lar
cenv or felony, all other larceny being
petty larceny or misdemeanor
Another bill provides that the Munici-
pal Court of the city OF Wilmington be
given final jurisdiction IN all cases ol
petty larceny with the right OF the de
PENDANT TO appeal TO a jury OF the Court
of General Sessions. A feature of this
change in the present method of dis
posing OF cases of the sort Is that M
whippings are to be given for cases o.
petty larceny.
The fourth bill provides that all wit
nesses in States cases heard before th'
| Municipal Court shall be paid 81 wit
ness fee The witness under the presen
system now receives no fees, being pai'
as witnesses when they appear at tn
hearing before the Court Of Genera
Sessions
The bill relating TO oXtradition oil
persons wanted IN other jurisdictions
provides that the defendant ma,
waive eNtradition the matter TO bI
placed in writing. thus saving thu
: trouble and expense of holding thu
, defendant for two weeks to permi
: the obtaining of eXtradition paper
! when he is willing to go back with
out them IL is declared that in y
, per cent. of the cases at the presen
time prisoners are willing 10 waiv'
extradition. The affidavit waving ex
tradition must be signed by thI
prisoner and three other witnesses.
The sixth bill relates to protection
Of the public from harmful distribu
ton of drugs.
Another bill provides that all junk
dealers shall keep a careful record Of
their purchases, the purchaser an6
the person to whom the articles are
sold the same as now in the case Of
pawn-brokers.
A bill relating to robbery provides
that the court may use discretion il
imposing lashes in cases Of robbery
: sentencing the prisoner TO receive
lashes up to forty in place Of fort!
as under the present law.
= l.. Warren Green. deputy attorne
general. acting in private capacit.
drew the bills at the request of I'll
q committee appointed by the grand iur.
3 comprising Joseph H. Hossinger, chat
81 man: n Allen Hilles, Henry NJ. Ian
Charles G.. Spoalman. r. Scott Tow
send and Richard A. Nottingham
d Present at The luncheon were the 70
. lowing grand jurors. John C. Allsto
; Andrew Bryson. William c. Deallyn
J. Charles s. Cawihrop, Carroll w. Griffit
, r.. Allen Hilles. Joseph II. dossinge
1usta g.. Justis. Henry ". Lang. Wi
e field S. Iattomus, Rodman Lovei
y James a. NIulligan, John S. AIulhn. Jol
l. Nivin George V. Poverty, Alfred ID. Pc
H. pies, George W. Pusey. Samuel
l. Ridgeway. William q. Rothwell. Charl
r G.. Speakman, Wilmer G. Stats.
Scott Townsend, William 4. Vail, Bic
e. ard A. Whttingham.