Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-11
"Medsst doubt 10 called
Ybs beacon Of the wise"
ABOUT pARooNs

Ymprisonment infiicts Krievous
wrong upon an innocent man. the
utmost care should be had not to
do this thing. when the Governor
declares that he Is convinced there
are innocent men imprisoned at
Tt,omaston he In a sense arouscs
auspiclon concerning the administra-
tion Of law that imprisoned them.
Public respect for administration OF
law is essential to good government.
II should be remembered that the
convict usually stands for trial be-
fore a Judge and jury. Is represented
by an attorney for his defence at
TINA when the facts are freshly In
the minds OF the public. that the YER
dict usually reflects In some degree
the conclusions Of the Judge. For
one man or group Of individuals to
impair the verdict years later. when
public interest Is gone. and along
with it recollection OF the details
when there is no inducement other
than sense OF public duty for prose-
cutors to present their side OF the
case, 10 assuming grave responsible
ity.
Yet that is A responsibility laid
upon the Governor and Council un-
der existing arrangement and II Is
gratifying when they recognize such
obligation with earnest effort to set
at the facts. Nevertheless. at time
when protection of society in ttis
country Is breaking down in compe-
tition with criminality 1t becomes
evident that this obligation includes
consideration OF the public as well
an the convict.
The law. the courts and the au-
thorities are nil susceptible. as are
All human things. to imperfection.
IL 1t unreasonable TO suppose that
the reviewing power Is susceptible
to human imperfectiou. that It's
Judgment, arrived at possibly under
less adequate conditions than were
those enjoyed by the prosecuting
power, may be in error. that such
an error may contribute to injustice
to society. greater In extent than
error on the other side possibly
could?
The responsibilities attending the
pardening power should not be mini
mixed. neither should attention be
diverted from the law. Personal
emotions should not be permitted to
interfere.
Frequently we hear asked: why
f. II that respect for life in Great
Britain contrasts very strikingly with
contempt for life In the United
States? A few days ago. Caverly,
1.-The Judge who sentenced Leopold and
Loeb, complained Of the terrible re-
.sponsibility laid upon him. An Eng
'lishman commenting on this remark
led that no English judge would re-
.sard 1t in that light. lie would
have had before him the law. the
definite penalty for murder prescrib-
ed, the confession of the criminals
,that they committed the murder. and
the Judge would not for a moment
think OF intruding his personal opin-
-ieas, he would render a verdict iii ac-
cordancs with the law. Furthermore
81 is generally admitted that place,
prAferment nor wealth avails in Sc
curing the release Of murderer IN
England.
What does the murderer in the
United States know about the penalty
he incurs? lie does not know
whether, In event Of conviction. he
Viii set. off on manslaashter. on
pfeG OF insanity or by Communication
Of sentence or a pardon. That type
Of individual is tcmperamentally in
clinsd to take chances. Here. in this
country. IL afforded what to him
amounts to an attractive variety Of
chances.