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Courts and Criminals by Arthur Cheney Train
page 169 of 266 (63%)
4. Move for a commission to take testimony.

5. Move for a change of venue.

6. Secure, where possible, a writ of habeas corpus and a stay
of proceedings from some federal judge on the ground that his
client is confined without due process of law.

All these steps he will take seriatim, and some cases have
been delayed for as much as two years by merely invoking
"legitimate" legal processes. In point of fact it is quite
possible for any defendant absolutely to prevent an immediate
trial provided he has the services of vigilant counsel, for
these are not the only proceedings of which he can avail
himself.

A totally distinct method is for the defendant to secure bail,
and, after securing as many adjournments as possible, simply
flee the jurisdiction. He will then remain away until the
case is hopelessly stale, or he no longer fears prosecution.

In default of all else he may go "insane" just before the case
is moved for trial. This habit of the criminal rich when
brought to book for their misdeeds is too well known to
require comment. All that is necessary is for a sufficient
number of "expert" alienists to declare it to be their opinion
that the defendant is mentally incapable of understanding the
proceedings against him or of preparing his defence, and he is
shifted off to a "sanitarium" until some new sensation
occupies the public mind and his offences are partially
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