South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-07

osths When an official Is inten-
tionally dishonest or naturally in
competent IL is expected that the
prosecutor should take steps TO re-
move such a person and restore the
confidence Of the public in consti-
tuted authority.
Just now the prosecutor is en-
gagged in some injunction suits. He
is 20 be congratulated upon his en-
ergy. To is only fair 10 withhold
final Judgment until those suits are
disposed Of We know that the
Judge who hears the cause is OF in
tegrity and ability And il is our
duty to attend those trials and show
the world that as Christians we are
ready 70 stand by any attempt 70
improve the conditions Of our city.
The courts are responsible. When
"A judge passes on case he as
sumes a great responsibility. If a
man violates a law knowingly and
then receives a light punishment.
he is simply amused. Is there any
doubt IN his mind when he is con-
victed twice. I'm the same court and
FOR the same kind OF Offense? The
papers carried the story Of "A man
who was brought into our city court
for speeding. He pleaded guilty. 1t
was the second time he had been
brought into the same court for the
same kind Of offense. It was the
second time he had pleaded guilty.
What was the punishment given for
this second offense? One dollar and
costs with the fine supended Any
speeder would consider the price
cheap for the privilege Of turning
our streets into "A speedway. Reck-
1essness increased until one night
lady was crossing Washington St, a
rushing automobile struck her and
death was the result.
Discusses Barrett Decision.
Another magistrate sat as a spe-
cial judge in the superior court. He
was trying the Barrett case. II was
discovered that the containers held
water instead of whiskey. Three po-
licemen swore that il was whiskey
that they had secured in the raid
and that the containers held some
thing that was not secured by them.
Was not their testimony enough for
the case to proceed? If a man steals
8 200 in bills and the bills are held
by the chief of police for the day
Of the trial. ard if three men see
the thief steal the money and these
men identify il as legal money. And
If while the chief has the money in
his custody another thief steals the
bills from the chief and leaves in
their place pieces of paper. And
when the pieces were brought into
court. because they were not the
stolen money. the court would disre-
gard the testimony Of the three men
who saw the money stolen and iden-
tilted it and dismiss the case. Would
YOU be satisfied if the money had
been stolen from you?
Thus the special Judge sitting in
the Barrett case ordered the acquit-
tai of the defendant when it was
discovered that the containers did
not contain the liquor taken in the
raid / asked one lawyer about such
procedure and he said: 1t Is clearly
stipulated that the jury shall be the
Judges Of the law and evidence and
the jury should have been allowed
TO consider the testimony Of the
three men Another lawyer said:
II would not have dismissed the
case. but / would have issued bench
warrants and would have gone TO
the bottom Of it, OF all the lawyers
( / have approached on the subject
not one has taken the view Of that
7 special judge.
Here are some Of the questions
that confront us. What is TO be the
resuIt2 A Quaker was driving a
I load Of hay toward his barn. A
storm was coming. He hurried on
4 his way. Tn turning a corner the
/ load tipped over. He hastily re-
| loaded the wagon. But he put too
much weight on one side and when
u ne started the horses the load tip
ped over again. Again he replaced
\ il. All went well until he reached
/ the barn when a wheel dropped into
a hole and the load came off again.
I As his wife hurried out it began 20
\ rain. Crawling from under the hay.
/ with patience gone. he said to his
\ wife: Maria. thee had better return
Y TO the house. am getting ready 10
/ express myself And with over
/ tried patience some people are get
I ting ready to express themselves
/ But the question is the manner OF
/ expression
Takes Ran at Payers.
1--WE depend upon our newspapers
We need them TO crystalline public
. sentiment. Both of them have con-
demned official negligence. And this
is the time 10 arise above partisan
politics. But in their policy whether
intentionally or unintentiOnally, the
/ papers have been partial 10 part OF
the clergy OF our city. When the
question Of moral conditions has
arisen the reporters have hurried
TO interview members of the Minis
terial association 10 find out il any
I thing was planned for a correction
of public evils. But they have ig-
nored those pastors outside OF the
association. one paper called the
roll OF the association, told them "a
stand mp and laid on them the blame
Tor conditions but did not ascribC
any responsibility TO those outside OF
the association. What law or man
date has made that association OF
particular organization the sole
monitor OF public morals?
Are the pastors OF the Lutheran
, Catholic EpiscOpalian and Jewish
churC hes without any moral in