Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-03-15

shall present things truly - they shall come
to your knowledge, according to the best Of
your understanding, and according to the laws
Of this Territory" These several clauses Of
your oath just read. imply that you shall act
as just, independent and honest msu. In 50
doing you will disam suspicion even of it's
fangs and power to harm. and makD it mani.
fest to III that your action has besn governed
by proper sense of duty, and what yea be-
lievcd to be for the best intersst Of socisty-
the promotion of the public good. - veil a
the preservation Of the Government. under
which you live, and of which We are al .
component part. 1t requires twelve Of your
number to agree to the finding Of an indict-
ment. l,y section 1877 you are "not bound
to hear evidence for the defendant. but it is
your duty to weigh all the evidence submit
ted to you, and when you have reason to be-
lcve that other evidence within your reach.
will explain away any charge, you can order
such evidence to be produced for that Pir-
pose. and may cause process to issue for wit
nesses."
This statute is peculiar 10 Washington
Territory. whether the provisions contained
in the section just mentioned be salutary or
hurtful, il is 10 business Of ours TO inquire.
"No grand juror shall disclose the fact
that an indictment for a felony has been
found against any person not in custody or
under rccognizance until such person has
been arrested" Sec. 1919, Grim. Practice
Act.
mo grand juror shall be allowed 10 state
or to testify in any Court in what manner he.
! or any Of the jury. voted ON any question Le-
Cor. hat I.x,
any juror in relation to such question, or
what question was before thcm."-Sec. 200,
Grim. Practice Act.
Having reminded you, as required, Of the
provisions Of this and the preceding sections
Of tho Criminal Statutes, you attention will
be called TO some of the ofienscs or crimes
that may possibly come before you. If we
could be appraised of the specific crimes Which
You may be called upon TO investigate, each
could receive from us particular definition
and comment. AS it is, our remarks must be
general.
Offenses arc divided into two classes
crimes and misdemcanors. They take again
another subdivision, into those that are fcloni-
Gus and those that are less than felonious.
All ofenses or crimes which by your statutes
are punishable by imprisonment in the peni-
Tertiary are felonies' and all others are mis-
demeanors.-Chap. II, Sec. II, Grim. prac-
tice Act, p. LOG.
The compiers Of the criminal code, and
which has been adopted by the Legislative
Assembly of the Territory, and made part of
the law Of the land, have defined MS well as
prescribed the punishment for offenses COM
mtted against the LIVES and PERSONS of
individuals, against property, against the pub
lie peace, public Justice. by and against pub
Tic officers, public policy, against morality and
dccency, and against public health.
Under the first head, are comprehendcd
murder, manslaughter, ducling, mayhem, as
sault and battery, rape, robbery, kidnapping,
administering drugs to kill child, en- rcatrc
sa mere Or abortion, and extortion of money.
Under the second is included arson, burglary,
animal with intent to steal, buying and re-
cciving stolen goods, obtaining money. &c,
under false pretense. forgery, counterfeiting,
forcible entry, destroying monuments. burn
ing woods and grounds willfully or by ncgli-
gcnce, other than ones own, to the injury of
others. The third division embraces riots,
unlawful assemblases, disturbing public wor-
ship and ARRAYS. The fourth division in
cludes perjury and subornation of perjury, of.
fetal and individual; bribery, NAL teasance,
aiding escape and rescuing prisoners, obstmct-
ing and refusing to serve process, inhumanity
to prisoners, usurpation, receiving unlawful
fees, &c. Under the fourth head we have
enumerated nuisances, malicious prosecutions
violation of license laws, barratry, all species
of fraudulent voting lottery tickets, gaming
keeping gaming apparatus and suffering their
use for gaming, violation Of the estray laws,
obstruction Of public highways. bridges, &C..
discharging ballast in shoal water, obstruct-
ing navigation, discounting by officers Of Ter
ritorial or county orders, neglect of duty Of
supervisors Of roads, frauds upon the jury
box and jurors, unlawful toll, violation of the
marriage law, and concealing commission of
crime. The fifth head includes seduction
adultery and fornication, incest, polygamy, no.
torious lewdness, obscene books, pamphlets,
ballads, prints pictures, figures or descriptions,
disintcrment Of dead bodies, disfguring Of
tombstones, &C., and cruelty to animals. The
sixth and last head (public healthy embraces
selling poison, injury done to person by the
prescription Of physician or other person
when intoxicated, and selling intoxicating IL
quors to minors after request not to do so by
parent and guardian.
have. gentlemen Of the grand jury, At the
risk Of mourning the charge Of prolixity. CIV
en- in detail the various Offenscs ~ they stand
recorded on your statute book.
1t is dark catalogue. and the crimes and
offenses which it cnumerates have stained the
annals of the worlds history since the ruins
Of the fall. How many Of these laws remain
- q dead letter ON the "statute book" in
Washington Territory. end to what extent