AMERICAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1924, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABI.E ASSOCIATION

A.MEIUCAN TRIALS. NEW YORK, July 2d

Ouinim-nting on I In- crime commission slnlislics, ,tln- Cliicagn “Tribune" says —■“Criminal justice in Amorim has become a Homan holiday and the courts are the coliseum. British law is infinitely superior for conducting trials.” It adds—‘•lnjury to justice is in the publicity before a trial. The newspaper trials before the case is called have become an abomination. Journalistic lynch law is the rule. 1 he prosecuting attorneys now hasten to the newspapers with their theories and confessions and the defence attorneys do the same. Neither dare do otherwise. Half-witted juries, or prejudiced juries are inevitable." The “lnl.uno” admits it shares the blame and insists that no newspaper can escape it. There is, it says, one remedy, the drastic restriction of publicity before a trial must l.e imposed by law. A All"111.)Hit- \ HAY. (Received tins day at 11 .2o a.m.l NEW YOKK. July 21. Chicago has had a murder daily for June and one hundred and twentyseven since the first of the year. 'lhe report of the Chicago Crime Commission shows that the trend of the murders is upward. About half those indieted at Chicago were convicted, and only a small proportion executed, and c,f nine sentenced last year only one was executed.