The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-05
Judge wiIkinson's Criticism
Q the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald. 1 Will you please publish a few | thoughts from a subscriber and an | average citizen anent the topic, Crime
 and the Remedies for It." which is now uppermost in newspaper discussion in | this county? | In your paper of November 29 ap- | peared an article with headlines: More l Hangings and Less Light Punishme mt the Cure, Says Judge Wilkinson" and while no name was signed to the ar ticle 1t was credited to Judge Wilkin- | son.
 A large number of an intelligent public are asking what inspired the erstwhile jurist to the charges against the judges and solicitors who have
 charge of proceedings in the criminal courts of the county; also the same in telligent public ask on what is based
 the assertion: With the cooperation of the judiciary. the solicitors office, and the people, Jefferson county should have not less than 25 hangings in the next six months"
 Is it not fact well known to all who have had experience in the crimi- nal courts of the county. either as ju- TOTS or as attorneys that the officials there measure up to high standard of efficiency; that with painstaking care each case is handled on its merits, di- rected by the best human wisdom, and, when convictions are returned, the Judges are quick and sure in meting out such punishment as the facts of the case demand?
 The article by Judge Wilkinson con tains a very severe arraig1ment of the judges and solicitors with respect to $50 fines which have been imposed; ; but naught was said as to the facts on which such fines were based, nor was there any mention ,of fines ranging from $50 to $500, many of which be- tween these figures have been imposed and will continue to be imposed just SO long as the law is transgressed. The records of the courts are open to in spection by the citizens: and there are none so blind as those who have eyes with which to see, and see not"
 Should men be hung merely to sat- isfy the whims of popular sentiment, or should they be accorded their full rights of just. fair and impartial trial. based on the true facts of each individual case, as guaranteed. by the constitution and laws of our land.
 If Judge Wilkinson is impressed with the idea that criminal cases which have been on the dockets in Jefferson county for 30 to SO days are disposed of for lack of witnesses present when such cases are called for trial, then he Will have only to assume the position of defense counsel in a few cases when he will find if the cases are six months, one year to three years. and even longer, on the docket the solicitors force will be there with the witnesses for the prosecution.
 Where. by inference or otherwise, in Judge Wilkinson's article does his hanging proposal find support? There are certainly no facts given on which such charge might be based, and the only reason which the article sug- gests, inferentiallv or otherwise, is the evil tendency of a certain criminal ele- ment to the commission of crime. which. as all know. is not restricted to Jefferson county: but that it is more or less widespread over the country and the nation.
 The Apostle Paul spoke words ap- plicable to the gist of Judge Wilkin- sons article. and which are in the minds of many now. when He, said: Wherefore thou art without Sexcuse.. 70. man. whoever thou art that judges; for. wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself.' Again, John said: Judge not according to appear- ances, but judge righteous iudgment"ls
 The Biblical quotations above are ample and apt replies to what was con- tained in your paper of this date under the heading: Courts and Criminals" quoted from the Montgomery Adver- tiser as we'll as to the letter of MT. J. Ellis Davis, appearing in Voice of the People Column" of your afternoon contemporary of even date. under the