New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-05-11
CITY Intelligence.

FIRST DISTRICT CouRT.-Judge Larue, having
from his recent proracted Illness yesterday
sumed the duties of his station
The Grand Jury for the present term was empanneled
me names OF the gentlemen composing it ]. B.
wright foreman y J, Eorstall j. X. Converse H. Hop
kns, j. Z. Davis, Il. P ponpare, j. Lei S. H. Page i
aiyer Daniel sculy p. Vassel A. Landry B. Rodrigues
A p. Charbonnet W. Solomon, and J. p. Nelson
ms Honor charged the jury that some of the duties
they were called upon to perform embraced in the
oath which they had just taken diligently to inquire in
and for the body of the Parish of Orleansi of ali crimes
OF whatsoever nature committed therein The proceed
| tue were ca a'te and they would be called on
to consider only the testimony for the State such
t Were brought before them 1t was not incumbent
them to ascertain with certainty that crime had been
committed. They should find that there were good
grounds OF suspicion and then present the accusation
the OF the petit Jury before whom the
ctsed would nave the right to be confronted with wit
nesSes and to bring witnesses in support the defence
The members of the Grand Jury were the great con.
SENATORS OF the peace during the for which they
We're empanneled and had only power to naure into
such cases as we've brought to their notice by the
cutting officer of the State but might also their own
personal knowledge.
Members of the Grand Jury were good witnesses before
their body and they had the right compel the attend
ance OF witnesses through the process of this court
II was essential in making their presentments to
the place date and of the offences charged
otherwise their efforts would be avail to the
nifty in bringing the guilty to punishment
Inc late grand jury in their report had brought the
attention OF the Court the alarming increase par
ticulary in the higher grades of robbie
~ There was denying the fact and thisvas increase
was attributable to certain definite causes.
The late war with Mexico had thrown upon the commu
nifty class of men. who however gallant in war and in
the defence of their countrys flag corrupt idle
and vicious class Besides the discovery gold in Cali
fornia had produced class of people who if they
little moral purity when they left here certainly
much less when they returned. third class made
up OF the numerous thieves whom the constant ngress
egress of California people cougregaed here for the pur
poses of speculation.
Much of the crime committed here might be attributed
to the morbid sentimentaty and foolish philanthropy of
our people which tempted them to shield from punish
itrols
part OF the public had made algher matter to
mt murder than assault and battery In the latter
punishment was sure. in the former it not.
no sooner is mI OF however notorious bad character
or however ahect he may be, brought up charge
murder or manslaught than public sentiment becomes
enlisted in his favor and every effort is order to
shield him from Justice.
Men mbued with this kind of philanthropy should look
on the other side They should slider the fate of the
widow who may be left destitute y the murder of her
husband or of his innocent chdr n CRYING for bread
wnea Their father has been taken rom them by the vio
tence OF ms fellow man They should consider the desi
tnte condition of wives and daug es who deprived of
the natural protectors and driven poverty are driven
To the orothel in order to obtain tn ofsubstence
ana OF the helpless children who and forsaken are
forced to eonsort with thieves are thus rendered
miserable and degraded for life
Jurors should look at both sides f, the pfcture uom
sids Is not only wrong the il livdua whose life is
'acriticed but it inicts injurE on the community
which may be felt through generations
There was class of carried bowie knives and
pistols, whose conduct fruitful source of crime
md who even proud of the offence Of homicide
There yet another class upon whom the homes of So
,cty for the eradication of crime mainly depended
These were the honest and industrious portion of the
community who lived by the fruits of labor or ON
he accumulation of capital This class had unfortunately
,cen limited by laws exempting them jury duty by
he most foolish legislative system known.
There another class OF crimes such as robbery bur-
larry and arson. which required and elaboration
carry them out Persons convicted of these crimes in
hose estenuating circumstances could be found
nd whose reformation beyond hope had after con
con been let loose upon society by the unaccountabe
weakness of the Executive and the State Senate
The Judge called the attention OF the jury to the viola