The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-09-13
EARLY TRIALS FOR CRIMINALS
ADVOCATED

CINCINNATI, OHIO, Sept. o.
The history of organized government
demonstrates that the speedy trial of
criminal cases and the swift and
certain punishment of criminals
effects a reduction in the volume of
crime, Edwin W. Sims, president of
the Chicago Crime Commission told
the American Bar Association at its
meeting here recently.
"On the other hand" Mr.. Sims con-
tinued, Increased crime follows
closely on the heels of delayed trials
and deferred punishment. In short,
crime increases or decreases in the
proportion that punishment is swift
and certain. The speed with which
crime is punished has great deal
more to do with the preservation of
law and order than the severity of
punishment.
Criminal laws bear close analogy
to natural laws. A child puts it's hand
in the fire but once. One experience
is sufficient. 1t is not necessary that
the injury be severe.
Existing criminal laws i'm America
are the evolution of centuries of prac-
teal experience. AS they have been
developed, they are invaluable. There
are those, however, who attack the
theoryof punishment and who, con-
tending crime is a disease, recommend
and urge that punishment be abolish
ed and some other form of treatment
substituted. 1t is grave mistake to
interfere in any way with, impede or
\, ho 90
laws which have been centuries in de-
velopment at least until the expert
ment has been tested thoroughly and
found to be practical.
'Three years ago the Chicago Asso-
citation of Commerce appointed and
financed a crime commission. 1t does
not of itself undertake the apprehen
sion nor the prosecution of criminals,
The commission limits it's activity to
an investigation of crimes of violence,
murder, burglary and robbery. 1t
early reached the conclusion that the
principal avenue of escape was the de-
lay in the trial of criminal cases.
"The commission was organized in
the year 1919. Data collected for
that year showed there were 1 10 muir
ers to 100000 of population in Chi
cago, as against nine to the 100000 |
in Great Britain and thirteen to |
1 100000 in Canada. This meant |
that during 1919 there were more |
murders in Chicago with population |
of 100000 than in the British Isles
with population of 40,000,000.
"For years in Great Britain and |
Canada, murder cases generally have |
been disposed within sixty or ninety !
days. In American cities there prac-
tically are no murder cases being
tried within ninety days.
"April 1, 1920, 1875 persons pre-
viOusly indicted for murder were
awaiting trial in Chicago. In 1O4
cases the accused were at liberty on
bond. The situation was brought to
the attention of the courts and Off
Gals by the Crime Commission with
The result that four Judges, then in
The civil courts, volunteered to sit i'm
he Criminal court and try cases until
;he murder docket was cleared. The
rial OF these cases resulted in senten-
ing of twelve to hang and twelve to
he penitentiary for from one year to
ife.
Murder Rate Cut In Half
1.-The effect on the number of MUIR
iers in Chicago was electrical. I'm
nediately the murder rate there
iropped 81 per cent, where it has
ince remained. The record for the
lrst seven months of each of the last
hree years is as follows:
919 900
921 - Of
In compiling its report on continu-
noes, the Crime Commission ran
cross case and in December 1919,
light and one-half years after the
rlme was committed, the defendant