White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-02-20

ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY
ATTORNEY BEARDsLEI
Out Of 145 criminal cases handled
in Benton county in 1924 only three
Of them resulted in acquittals, ac.
cording to a Communication to the
Spokesman from George o. Boards
ley. prosecuting attorney. Mr.. Boards
ley says
have just completed and sub
mitted my annual report as Prose
cutting Attorney for the year 1924.
For your information am quoting
you some Of the pertinent facts
shown in my report showing the
business done by the Office during the
past year. Total number of cases
handled 227. Criminal cases las. Civ
il cases 81, Miscellaneous ~. Supreme
Court, S. Criminal cases handled
145. Convicted 90, Acquitted 3, Dis
missed 81, Pending II, Fugitive 8.
Total amount Of fines imposed or
collected, $3,200.45.
Written opinions furnished to
County Officially s.; oral opinions,
81.
Supreme Court cases handled, S.
All affirmed.
am particularly proud of the
fact that out of l45 criminal cases
handled, only Of them resulted in
acquittals. Under cases dismissed are
included cases wherein it was de-
cided that the evidence was not suf-
ficient to warrant a prosecution; al
SO parties who have been fugitives for
such length Of time as to warrant a
dismissal Of the charge against them;
also cases involving bad checks
were redeemed and the costs paid.
have made the following rec
concentrations to the Governor con-
corning proposed legislation, which
from my experience in the Office, I
deem necessary and proper.
It is recommended that legislation
be enacted directing the County Com
nissioners Of the respective counties
upon acquisition Of real property
under foreclosure for taxes by the
County to cancel all inferior taxes
levied against said property and
wiped out by the foreclosure pro-
ceedings SO as to prevent further
inclusion Of said inferior taxes in
future certificates of delinquency and
certificates Of sale and to prevent the
necessity Of quieting title thereto in
the name Of the County.
It is recommended that legislation
Constitution be amended SO as to
permit judges of the State Courts to
make comment upon the evidence
produced and give authority over
witnesses and counsel that will tend
to enlighten the jury as to the facts
and expedite, the trial of criminal
cases, putting into effect in the
State Courts the practice that is now
in effect in the Federal Courts Of
this Country and Canada.
It is recommended that legislation
be enacted requiring the retention Of
one-half Of the jury panel called to
do duty to the next jury term 30
that each panel will be comprised Of
members, one-half of whom have had
previous jury experience and that
jurors be paid $500 per diem in
order that business interests of the
ordinary juror will not be prejudiced.
It is recommended that legislation
be enacted permitting criminal YER
dict In cases, except where the sent
ence may be death or life irnprison-
mcnt, when ten of the jury have a.
greed as is the case in civil practice
and that when the accused in the
criminal case shall have taken the
witness stand in his own behalf that
the State be permitted to cross-ex-
anime him upon all the material al
legations OF the charge, regardless of
the extent Of his direct examination
and if the accused fail to take the
stand his failure SO to do may be
commented upon by counsel for the
state.
In general, it is recommended that
in criminal prosecutions that our laws
be so amended as to expedite the
trial and correct our present defective
procedure, which procedure now un-
duly protects the criminal and over
looks the right of the law abiding
public and to the end that the law
abiding public may have a fifty
Fifty break with the accused on all
criminal prosecutions and to the end
that the unwarranted cloak of protec-
ton which now surrounds an ac-
cused may be 30 removed that the
present excessive number of guilty
persons acquitted because OF present
procedure and technicalities may be
properly equalized.