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Show were introduced as evidence in the "endeavor tJ show that they' were burned with powder from the revolver. CThe attorneys for the State undoubtedly had the etin examined by microscopists fcefore the trial and. knew that it could not be told whether black marks in the skin were caused by burning powder, but the gruesome evidence was introduced just the same. Nothing was proved by it, but it gave the attorneys the opportunity to ' Introduce their sensational methods. . ' It is the duty of a prosecuting attorney to do hit utmost to "secure the conviction of a prisoner whom he believes to be guilty, but when he knows he has a case so weak that conviction is almost impossible, .we do not think it is his duty to attempt to make it nppear strong by using the methods of the property man of the theater. Such tactics as those employed by the State's attorneys in the Patterson case cause people to lose respect for the law and for courts. In stead of a solemn proceeding in which the life or liberty lib-erty of a human being may be declared forfeited, a criminal trial too 'often degenerates into a cheap melodrama. The sensation-lovers have been gratified, but the ends of Justice have not been furthered by the conduct con-duct of the prosecutiorHn the Patterson trial. Meloiraraa, Not Jasties. ( For pure, unadulterated sensationalism com-; com-; xnend us to the modern criminal trial. : ,The Nan Patterson case in New York is one in i point. The .State's attorneys have been theatrical from the outset. They have exploited what they .were going to do by means of interviews in the press ; and in statements in the courtroom. They had a ; wonderfully strong case against the girl, to hear ; them tell it. Their evidence was enough to convict Ler of the crime charged and half a dozen others. . ; But the testimony is in, and what does it amount to? -It may be sufficient to cause the jury to convict, but we doubt it. Not a single thing the State de-! de-! clared it could prove was proved. The case made out by the prosecution was weak as skira milk. But there was the cheap attempt to be sensational. sensa-tional. Skeletons'were brought into court in order, ; Use State claimed, to show the course taken by the 1 tinllet that killed the man of whose murder the girl - ; is accused. A model of a portion of a human body I would have done as well, and perhaps would have i been better, but it would not- have been so sensa-'j sensa-'j tional as the skeleton. Then pieces of the skin of the dead man's hand |