Justice on Trial.

At Al Capone's trial something more is on trial than Al Capone. By far the larger issue before the Chicago court is whether the criminal law of the United States is capable of functioning against the dollar power. The law's failures, and the law's delays, have so often proved helpful to crime and fraud that it can be said with truth that although Al Capone is answering to American justice, American justice is as much on its trial as is the gangster. So far the fight is going not badly for the law. The round ending in the sentence (eleven years) and the huge fines and penalties to the Income Tax Department, was the judge's round on points. Though not all the points in the indictment held. But what about the appeal, and appeal delays? Chicago's sceptical man in the street was astonished at the sentence. He will be astounded if it is served.