The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-11

b,dy of this city, but one mile around and soout
the corpo ate limits of the city on the north side OF
the James river, and to the low-wafer marx on tne
other side
Twin now call your attention to some things
which the Legislature has thought proper 70 say
should be particularly given you in charge-simpy
remarkine. ere / come to their suggestions tnat
there Il another crime committed in this city tnat
ought to be irvestigated-and If there be any
dopbtsbout il the evidence Is at hand here, ana II
NAV be that more than one party has sought to e.
cape Justice by fleeing from the city and hiding In
The county Gentlemen, the crime oil forgery ''"o'
without existence in this corporation.
But | am instructed by the Legislative autnofines
of your State to call your attention to the gaming
laws of the staeand it is your duty to enquire INTO
snv iufraction of these laws. Gambling at any
public place whatever and for anything or nothing
Is violation of the law. To lose or win sums over
900 at any private place at any time is Vioanon OF
of one these laws The exhibition OF faro sank is
violation of these laws. is for yoa to enquire into
these things and do not think 1t necessary stand
here as a morast and discourse you upon the ef-
fscts. the painful effects, of gambling anywhere.
lam required to bring toyour attention what are
COMMONWEALTH the tipping laws. Tipping houses
as have had occasion to say before, are often the
scenes of violation OF law In the act OF seiang
LIQUOR itself; at them also quarrels often commence
and blood is shed and ARRAYS take place that result
in murder and of such houses ask your particu-
lar attention and Reproduction.
Again, gentlemen of the jury it is made my duty
by the law of the Commonwealth to call your at
tenton to the law that prohibits passing or receiv
inc bank notes of less denomination than five
dollars l do this because if the House of Dele
gates pass any law that is constitutional it is my
duty to present it to you, the Grand Inquest of the
community and therefore, call your attention d.
recty to the fact that it is violation of the penal
laws of the State to pass or receive bank notes of
less denomination than FIVE dollars.
would also direct your attention to the slave
laws, and might detain you until night by enum-
Grating list of enactments of minor grade, but
have often urged upon you these laws, and feel
assured that by this time you are thoroughly con-
versant with them. Isimply direct your considera-
ton 10 them specially.
Gentlemen of the Jury, besides the statute law of
this State there is another law which ~ are just
as much bound to enforce, and to have executedin
bringing offenders against justice, as the statute
law itself-it is the common law of the land, and
among the common law offences which are punish
able to certain degree by the new Code, are
houses OF ilfame. You have not only right, but
it is your duty in this respect to inquire into the
condition of the city-not only with respect to
houses of il-fame, but to persons of illfame, and
such are amenable to the criminal justice of the
country. MIR. NJ further referred to the duty of
the jury to enquire whether the action of any of
these places persons tended to corrupt the
morals of the city also, in view OF the approaching
sicky season, investigate the fathfuness of the
health and police officers in the discharge of their
respective duhes-and to present all nuisances and
street distractions. Upon this last point he re-
marked that he thoughtit strange that there should
be reported to the public at large me or 300 of
these distractions and that thus there should be the
same number of nusances ext listing in the streets
and he urged the duty of strict enquiry upon the in
quest in this respect. He then proceeded)
Gentlemen of the Jury, it is proper for me, as am
here part and parcel of the executive of the
State-for every Commonwealth Attorney is an
executive officer of this cornmonwealth-to present
to you all the laws of the commonwealth fully and
impartially, and now call your attention, as am
bound to cali your attention, and is right that
should-to what's the law concerning "riots routs
and unlawful assemblages." And les. might say
something that is not law, present to you what
the established law authorities call riots routs and
unlawful assemblages." (Mr NJ here read the law
setting forth the character and punishment of un.
lawful assemblages)
call your attention, gentlemen of the Grand
Jury, at this particular period especially to this
subject. My reason for doing it is that there has
been violation Of the general law of this common
wealth upon this subject, and that you should act
upon it and although am perfectly aware that
it is not your wish TO escape any Guty devolving
upon you-yet you will not escape, you could not
escape itwhile stand here public functionary for
never will permit any fence or any violation of
any law which | think proper should go to YOU
to escape me. You know to what allude, and as
tae awoficer Of this court, gentlemen of the Grand
Jury, mean to go further than to charge you
with the distinct penal laws of the State
In connection with this subject, l will refer YOU
again to what said little while ago. in regard to
the sworn execution of duty required of all the
officers Of this city and commonwealth, and i'm
press upon your minds renewedly, the fact that if
any officer of the State has been guilty of any vi
olation u .hs penal law Of this commonwealth. he
is OF oil men in the State, the very man upon whom
should DC visited the criminal justice of the
county, and he should be arraigned here to
stone for his offence. If there beany class of
persons sho ought to be dragged forth to public
exposure and punishment for a riolatioa of the
penal lao Of tie State, as that class pho, knoacas
~hot the lao as deliberately uiolates it. beg your
earnest attention to this subject and be The offender
whom he may-wbethsr in the highest or the low.
est rank--6ring him here. will here read to you
the statute Oh the subject Of ro:s order that YOU
may have The whole law relating TO it, before YOU.
THE law was here read defining unlawful Assem-.
blages riots, and routs, which at common law are
punishable by fines ard Imprisonment Mr.. NJ
cited from the fourth volume Of Burns on the du.
ties snd authorities Of Justices of the Peace, and
the Revised Code.
These laws that have read, gentlemen of The