The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-05

Charles fowles, George ". PAtt
John T. Parish, AexAnder Rankin,
stephen D. Fraser, David Happen
William NJ Gansry. Matthias Williams Jr.
The Grand Jury being sworn, the City judge read to
them foilows;-
THE CHARGE.
GEsrKSN-The opening Of another term of this Cou-.
brings me again into communication with the Grand In
quest OF the city and county Of New York Your ssec.
highly complimentary to you personally aud the duties
devoiving upon In the performance brings
rssps1siohtss comparatively and dscats. Your
Gates vsry ceariy the nature of responsibilities which
low from then With no intention to make pers ,nal
at least, In commenting briefly on the require msnes
o. Ids OATH. Inc reason msy serve 20 impress
all our minds fully with the Importance
which the Jaw alta ches r. Office and duties aud
TO enable you to act more usefully Grand Jurors
You have sworn that you wilt diligently inquire and
true presentments make Of all such matters and things
Is shall be given you in charge. Fhis undertaking de-
mAnds that you shall be satisfied beyond all reasonable
doubt tnAt the person accused guilty OF the offence i'm
puted before you create by your action the necessity Of
public trial You should be satisfied that the wit.
credible make just allowances for possible bad
motives or impure designs, closely scrutnize them
tiously sN their evidence and make the question of
guilt 80 clear that you wouE be compelled on trans
Of the evidence find verdict Of guilty
In the case rebutdng explanatory evidence
offered by the accused what's the incoming the terms
diligently inquire and true presenments make OF all
such matters aAd things a. shah be given In your
ssIhe counsel of your fellows and your own you sha
Keep secret You specially eDjoned BY a stAtute
Of this State from disclosing the fact that an indictment
Is found against any person for felony, until the defend
ant shall have been arrested thereon and think
did Interpretation Of the injunction demands that
shall make disclosures OF any matters whatever which
may be submitted TOR your confederation
"You shall present ne from envy, hatred or ma
lice" Can any other conmsntary DO req ured in eluc
dstion of this Injunction. than its plain and impress
Witnesses let knowledge Of the aies Of poor hui
nature and OF the frequent Of the ofest
human intellect, teach to be wAtchful own
duct may be submitted TO our investigation. Lss not
pasa n, prejudice, hatred revenge, find
loo gpnent In our minds
sNei,her shall you leave any one unrepresened from
fear, favor, Affection reward the hope of reward
True courage exhibited in the rash and stub
born exercise Of Prudence, reflection iasegry
and consciousness Of right ial elements of
TINS and eminent yirtae These qualities, gentle
men win lead you distinction in the exercise
of Jour cues between the wealthy and the poor, the
oy and the humble the titled and the private citizen.
The OF true courage Is necessarily honest
In the performance OF duty such will stand firm.
When ayorftes would begue him he Will iio ldexi
bic against alurements of Affection and wilt cast the
wretch who snail dare 10 proher or accept the boe OF
gold
But you shall present all hincs truly az they come
your knowledge according to the oest Of your under
Standing That l. al the law guires ut your hands;
bat gentlemen 1t requires all that You must only
truly, but must presen. ali things they
come TO your knowledge. faithful regard to the de.
ands Of this oath will not hold ycu gultess IL you
sct plant preferred by table witness merely
because the Law which violated is csfavored by the
pubic, ITS validity is questioned its expeM
eney doubted. With the questions OF disavor, validity
or expedispcy you have no concern. "Why hast thou
formed thuss sor the law is emAnation of power
essentially above Ia creator the Creator is above
his ration al creatures.
$50 help you God" Such Is the appeal which on "a.
Stunning Office the Grand Juror makes in sssveration OF
the purity of his motives and the integrity Of his
tons.
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury With this brief aud
perfect psraphrase the official OATH under the sauc
ion Of which your duties are assumed you may Be able
IN fOru1 n nd
Inquest a. an integral part Of the city civil govenment
the shield Of defence which the Fundamental law OF
against the malice Of private prosecutors, and the
ence o. popular prejudice ana excitement lou VIII,
.hersiors make AZ your ot,'. actions 81 ,ssryiens to
temen, exerds OF course, over the city and county o.
including the waters Of the Hudson and East
to the shores opposite to the city and county TO
the point Of low water and the islands lying therein
When offence shall have been committed the bound
Of this ana any county u this or vi hin
i've hundred yards OF such boundary, although in ad
oanins county the onenoer may De niceed ana tried in
this county When any offence shall have been commit
aed bard Of any vessel while navigating of the
rivers waters contiguous 70 the city and county OF New
York, the offender may be indicted aud tried In the
COUNTY, although the ofence may nave been per-
country, II the vessel passed through this
county on the same voyage, or trip or ter
IN this county. The thief and the receiver of
stolen eInbzed property may be indicted and tried Ia
sh6 county although the property may have been stolen
or N any other county OF this State, II the
or the receiver receive or have In this county By
any unlawful means employed in any other county Ia
this State, human being shall be wounded who shall
Gle tneIesf In this county offender may be indicted
and tried in this county. burglary or robbery be
committed in any other county and the property o,sn
be brought into this county the offender may be in
iicsd and tried In Ibis county for the burglary rob-
berry. nuisance shau be created continued
,ear The boundary Of the counties Of New York, West
chester and Queens the offender may be indicted and
red In this county il the citizens be njuri ,usy affected
hereby although the nusan may be situated ia either
a ,fHar no
" may indictes and tried In this county his offence
% committed tneren notwithstanding the principal
,ence MY have been perpetrated Ia any other county
ndcteuts for murder may be found any time after
E death of the person kllsd. In all other cases iu
Iictuents must found and filed within three years
after the com Of the offence but the time during
which, after the act the perpetrator shsn not have been
usually resident In this State shall not constitute
any part the limitation OF three years The SUB
ject matter of your Jurisdiction embraces sn me
long catalogue Of crimes recognized by the laws 81
this STATE. The attempt TO enumerate them here and to
6ns them, would SAVIOR more Of ostenaaon tasn o.
sire impsrt useful practical kuo Fiedge, aad VIII
erelore orefY say that the District Attorney your