| Show THE DIAMOND SCOTT CASE TAn judgment of judge zane in the cow case of diamond tried and convicted of voluntary homicide for the killing of mr scott was eminently proper under the circumstances the sentence Ben tence leaned strongly to the side of leniency the remarks of his honor before passing judgment showed that he had bad properly analyzed the case he had given full weight to all the conditions of a nature that should influence the court toward a lenient sentence but had at the same time made due allowance for the extravagances of statement emanating from aou counsel noel for the defense being in our view one of the most distinguishing characteristics of the professional operations of or lando W powers in dealing in sentimental extravagances in his hiis presen presentations td to juries in criminal oases he seems to wield an influence in the direction in which he seeks to turn them the reason for this is that men as a rule are liable to be led by the nose instead of giving analytical scrutiny to important subjects involving the exercise of important functions as an citizens but when this method is in applied to a court especially one in which a man like judge zane presides pre aldee the presentation enco encounters unten a thinking and discriminating apparatus of no ordinary caliber in all matters in which life and liberty are involved judgment should be rend ered both in verdict and sentence only after a dispassionate consideration of all the facts associated with the caw case judges and juries have several vital points to consider some of them are not dot given their due weight they are exact justice the upholding of the law the protection of society it will not be denied that within a number of years post past there have been many cases in the local courts wherein per sons have been placed on trial for taking human life the chief sentiment that has existed after the first thrill of horror at the killing was over has been that of sympathy for the perpetrator of the deed that tender feeling toward the victim and those connected with him by the closest ties how has as a rule rul soon died out being supplanted by commiseration for the slayer juries seem mom to co have been influenced fluen flue ced need in this way and by the hy by representations of criminal attorneys the result has been that the takers of human life have with marked frequency escaped the penalties of the law this condition cheapens human life and gives those who are passionate and perhaps revengeful the impression that they can kill with at least comparative para tive impunity when such la Is the ewe case homicides increase and the law falls fails of its object the protection of society moiety from the violence of the intemperate and viciously disposed |
