The Trinity journal., 1856-04-12

NAV be some there no doubt will be some
who will find fault with YOU if your duties
are discharged with rigid firmness, ard
strictly in accordance with tne oaths you
have all Just taken But gentlemen, for the
reputation of our County, their number, |
hope is insigHifcanty small their interests
are adverse to the best interests of society
and good government, and it will make but
little difference with you whether you re
cciyc their praises or incur their ccnsure.-
If your duties as Grand jurors are discharg-
cd faithfully and firmly, you are certnin to
receive theapproyal and appreciation OF that
better, and hope far more numerous class
Of citizens, who respect and obey the laws
of the land, and who are always found fore
most in promoting the happiness, good order
and weIlbeng of the community in which
they live. Therefore, | hope the duties which
You are about to commence, unpleasant and
disagrecabc though they are, will be dis
charged with that irmness and independence
care and prudence which their Importance
demands
There isno more responsible position which
citizen can occupy than that of a Grand
Juror The responsibilities which attach to
it are Of the greatest moment, not only to
the unfortunate accused whose acts you may
be called upon to investigate, but to the
community at large. The interests of the
public are committed to your charge, and
the interests of the accused is in your hands,
and it is your duty to guard them with the
most Jealous care, remembering that the de-
lcndant in your cr P1Hc Investigations has
no other shield against injustice than your
own impartial and honest Judgment. There
is no place where the maXmS Of the golden
rule do unto others as tou would have 9th
crs do unto you, applies more aptIy or more
beautifully than i'll the Grand jury ROOM
| The oath which you have all just taken, in
its beautiful and comprehensive language,
is in itself a sufficient charge and furnishes
safe guide for your deibcrations-if if kept
constantly in view, you cannot materially
err
| If any member Of the Grand jury know,
or have cause to believe that public of
fence has been committed, which is triabc
within the County, he must declare the same
/ to his fellow Jurors, ich0 shall thereupon in
ycStgatc the same. If any member of the
Grand jury should have formed or expressed
his opinion as to the TuiIt or innocence of any
person charged with an ollcnc it is the duty
of such juror to retire from the room while
such charge is being investigated, and to
take no part whatever in the consideration
of the charge, or the deliberations of the
Grand jury thereon And would suggest
that your Secretary in keeping the minutes
of your proceedings, should note the absence
Of any juror who may retire from your de-
liheralious for this cause and also note the
particular case under consideration when the
Juror retired No one who has actual bias,
or who has either formed or expressed de
cidcd opinion that the defendant is guilty Of
the offence charged, would bc competent
juror, therefore when ease comes up before
You, If any member has either formed or cN-
pressed decided opinion as to the guilt Of
the party charged, he should retire while
the charge is being investigated.
The District Attorney is your legal adyi-
ser, and should he allowed at all times to ap-
pear before you ON his request for the pur-
pose of giving information or advice relative
to any matter before you, and may interro-
gate witnesses for you whenever You may
/ deem it necessary. Except the District At
torncy, no person should be permitted to be
present before the Grand jury, besides the
witnesses actually under examination before
You, and no person should be permitted to
be present during the expression of your
opinions, or giving your votes upon any mat
ter before you
Every member of the Grand Jury should
keep secret whatever he, or any other Grand
Juror may have said, or in what manner he
or any other juror may have voted on any
matter before them. | am satisfied gentle
men, from personal observation and expert
Cncc that sufficient attention is not paid to
this Injunction of seCrcSy provided 10y the
Statute. Persons in this place have been
informed that they have been indicted by
the GraHd Jury when was satisfied that at
the time the Court did nat even know of the
fact This is wrong, and in many cases might
defeat the ends of justice 1t is Il misde-
meanor aud contempt, punishable by fine and
Imprisonment, for Grand Juror, District
Attorney, Clerk, or other officer of the Court
to disclose the fact of a prcSentmcnt having
been made for a felony, until the Defendant
has been arrested
The Grand jury must enquire into the case
of every person confined in the Comfy jail
on criminal charge and not indicted into
thc condition and management of the pris
on. and into the wilfuI and corrupt miscon-
duct in office of all public officers of every
description, within the County lou are
entitled at all times to an examination of
the public Records of the County free Of
charge
You should receive none but legal cy-
doncc, and do not act, in any case, without
you have such evidence before YOU derived
from the witnesses themselves, or from dcpo-
sItlons properly taken and certified. 1t
were far better not to find a bill at all. ra-
thcr than present one without the necessary
evidence to support it. On this point think
your duty Is plain, never to indict, except ON
such credenco as if uncontradictod, would
Justify You in conyictng, if setting as a fri