Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-10-04
THE LAWS DELAY.

THE LAWS DELAY.
The laws delay" the slow move
nent OF justice. has become proverb-
nj. It was made a subject OF sar-
,astic comment by Shakespeare more
han three centuries ago. 1t still pre-
rails to an extent that proves an irri-
alton and an impairment OF the cause
If justice. And in this country II
has assumed a premanence in nearly
All States, that calls loudly for reform.
Recently. Judge Rogers of the Com
non Pleas Court of Philadelphia
made trip to England for the special
purpose of observing court procedure
N that country. He saw much that
impressed and enlightened him, as will
be noted in the following editorial
reference to his visit by the Philadel-
phia Record:
During his visit to London.
Judge Rogers sat on the bench
with Lord Vile. at the famous
Old Bailey, and gave consider
able time to the study OF English
criminal procedure. He discov-
cred among other things that
criminal cases in England are
usually disposed Of within ten
days Of the apprehension OF the
offender that juries (even in
homicide cases) are selected In less
than an hour; that continuances
are not countenanced and that
there Is always rapid action upon
motions for new trials. As a re-
suit OF this frowning upon all dils-
toriness, the American Judge soon
convinced himself twice as much
business Is handled In English
courts as in those in this coun- ,
try. Lord VILE assured Judge
Rogers that Britain's speedy trial
system is one Of the most powerful
deterrents to crime in England,
and the evidence before his own
eyes convinced the guest at Old
Bailey of the truth Of this"
Contrast this swift and sure ad
of justice in Great Brit
ain with similar procedure In thi
country, and the results of the com
parison will be surprising. There
trial will be completed in te,
days following the arrest OF the &C
cused defendant. In our countr,
many more than ten days have beel
wasted, time and again, IN the pre-
procedure of empanelling tn
trial jury. And delays by reason @
postponements are notorious.
Occasionally a radical departur
from this policy is noted here. In Bal
timore, a few week ago, a prominen
business man was foully murdered b
a gang of dastardly conspirators i
order to obtain a large sum Of none
he was carrying. The community wa
aroused by the crime and the agencie
of the law moved vigorously. Arrest
were made within the following weel
and the head OF the murder conspira
tors, who performed the dastardly az
Of killing, was fairly wrested by phys
cal force from tho temporary custod
OF New York City officials and hu,
ried out OF the jurisdiction of tha
State, In order to defeat measures &c
delay that were in preparation. La.
week two OF the murderous gang we,
convicted Of murder in the first d.
gree, but saved from the gallows b
the consideration OF the jury. The
were promptly sentenced to life in
prisonment, and trials OF their fellow
murderers are now under way.
Herein It is shown how 1t is possibl
IN response to outraged public sent
ment, to accelerate the wheels of ju,
tice and visit. prompt punishmel
upon villainous offenders. But t.
often, through the influence of none
and the employment Of able couns.
the hand of justice is stayed by II
intervention Of technical obstruction
frequently OF the most trivial chara
ter, but OF good standing in the pra
tice Of the law. The result is lor
delay, and the advantage to the o
fender Of the natural indifference tn
follows.
The evil IL not confined to the pros
cution Of criminal offenders. In CT,
actions the Same policy OF delay
continually employed. Here is an 1
stance i- PennsylvaniA re ted by