Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-09-25
REACHING THE GUILTY

To prosecute or not to prosecute,
is sometimes the question. When the
alleged crime was committed at the
Lower Narrows Of the Baraboo riv-
er some months ago, there was some
doubt in the minds of part of those
whether the matter should
be taken into court on account of the
publicity necessary to convict, or ig-
more the matter and permit the ac-
cused to escape punishment When
the case came to trial in circuit court
those prosecuting, the young lady
and her friends, were more than vex-
ed and irritated at the proceedings.
AS is usual in such cases, there was
not only an effort made to prove the
alleged offender was guilty but search
ing questions as to the character of
the teacher were presented. To
those who knew her this seemed ut
terly useless, waste of time, an at
tempt to besmirch her good name.
Questions full of inference were made,
embarrassing in the extreme, and to
many, should have been omitted.
They amounted to little, for the jury
decided the defendant was guilty of
the crime of which he was accused.
Some Of those who attended the
trial wondered if there was not a way
by which such a case might be. hand
led and not bring, the chief witness
into such an embarrassing situation.
The law provides a secret court for
cases in which children are the chief
witnesses but not where those of
mature years are interested. True,
spectators may be excluded from the
courtroom, but this cannot be done
if there is an objection. In the Lower
Narrows case there was opposition
to a secret trial and it had to be
held before the public A mother
vehemently said at the conclusion OF
the case, there should be law to
conduct such trial without SO much
publicity and embarrassing questions
being very much incensed at the way
the matter was presented A father
felt as il drastic measures by the
neighbors would have been prefer
able to the court scene and said it
was no wonder mobs often proceed
ed in their own way.
In same instances, however, it is
necessary to throw searchlight on
the plaintiff. Where the defendant
is wealthy and where money is
sought by the woman, in what other
way could the truth be brought to
light? In the Lower Narrows case
there was no thought of money, only
of conviction When the matter was
discussed with an attorney who has
had much experience in court and
who feels a human interest in an un-
fortunate individual, he shook his
head in puzzled way. It was one
he could not solve under existing
laws.
Young women like Miss Patterson
are to be supported and commended
! for the stand taken in such matters.
In no other way can the guilty be
brought to their just deserts-in no
other way can protection be thrown
about society than by bringing the
guilty to a comprehension of what
crime means. TO pass such matters
by, to wink at wrong, is to open the
way for others to travel in paths for
hidden by law and usage. There is
a greater crime than one such as the
defendant was found guilty and that
is not to bring the matter into court.
This is not said because Archie Bar
Der had to stand trial, but because it
is universal truth. Women, by
numerous enactments, are reaching
the ballot and are in a position to
change the statutes or to have en-
acted such as others will permit
less publicity in such cases. There is
no better program than for the law