BRITISH AND AMERICAN JUSTICE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43093, 16 May 1907, Page 4

BRITISH AND AMERICAN JUSTICE.

Attention has been directed to the contrast between the two l systems obtaining in Great Britain and America in- toe matter of the administration of justice), and the Thaw and Rayncr murder trials are cited as examples. In both the affairs of a millionaire come before a jury. In both there is a question ias tO' the relations of men of wealth and position with certain women. In both there was an opportunity for toe Yellow press of the two countries to publish or insinuate scandalous tales about the antecedents of the two dead men. In the inquiry at the Old Bailey, and to all appearance in that going on in New York, the sole question to be determined was the state of mind of the accused. The .circumstances of the crimes and the l question for the juries were curiouslv iiimilnr. The contrast between the- procedure in the two trials could not be greater. The long nightmare <"./ the

[Thaw trial still 200 s on, amt the end Rs still indefinitely distant. It began as far 1 baltik. at January 23. Days were occupied in empaunelling the jury, land the) amount of time spent ’’n thieateldi . combats between counsel pbout immaterial points passe® comfcrehension. The trial of Rayner for Bauch the same offence as that with Ivhich ThaW is charged is completed In a short day of about fire hour’s. Even if Rayner had been' l wealthy, and If we can conceive medical evidence ■ailed on his behalf, the trial could lot have been protracted beyond a leoond day. Ah eminent American ■wyer has lately said, with respect Hv the administration of criminal jus■ca ini his own country, ‘The machine ns become unworkable.’ We should lyb hare ventured to use so strong a Brrase. But the faces of the Thaw Bial and the ’contrast which We hare Bawni suggest that this judgment, Bough harsh, may be true. We may B thankful that so far w© hare small Bperience of trials which are almost B mischievous to society as the Bines Which are investigated.