Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-08-18
OLD SERIES, VOL. &c, NO. 45.
to deter some men from the preparation of
high offences against the laws ~ ,ho Ill

10 aeter some men from the preparation of
high offences against the laws of the land.
The torch OF the incendiary has within a
few months In some OF our neighboring towns,
destroyed property to very large emount
Houses are entered and pillaged. stables a,.c
broken open aud valuable property taken
most of which is never recovered. Men arc
attacked, beaten and robbed. There seem
to exist associations of individuals to law to
work, whose object is plunder or destruc-
tion of property. The utter disregard of the
laws, by some of the individuals licensed to
keep public houses the sale Of liquors by
men who have no authority to sell, the ex-
istence of saloons where not only immode-
rate drinking, but gambling are permitted
and practiced, contribute largely to the in
jury of youth and men of more mature years,
and the great increase of crime. Intemper-
ance begets idleness, and idleness want and
misery. Most of the cases of riot and as
sault and battery, take place in these vile
places, where drinking and gambling are
permitted, or from intoxication commenced
there. Is there no way of arresting these
evils The awful, and oftentimes sudden
preston, on his companies; creates no
alarm. The tears of heart-broken wife, and
the piteous cries of starving, naked children,
fail to reform the intemperate husband and
father. The money that ought to be appro-
priated to the support and comfort of his
family, is worse than wasted in the pur-
chase of an article that although slow, is
a sure poison. If you know Of individuals
who violate the liquor laws, you should pre-
sent them, that they may be dealt with, as
their total disregard of the laws most richly
deserve
Your duties, gentlemen, are important
They should he discharged faithfully, and
in reference to The solemn oath you have
just taken; an oath not to be disrcgarded,
without incurring fearful consequences. The
indictments, that will be laid before you,
should be disposed of with impartiality.-
Favor no man accused of crimes because he
is your friend, aud neighbor. Condemn no
one because he is your enemy. Let no poll
tical or other difference of opinion, prejudice
your minds. If the testimony laid before
you, satisfies you the charge is true, your
duty is to return true bill if it does not,
you should return it, not a true bill. Ground
less prosecutions should be discouraged, and
the prosecutor mado to pay the COSTS Your
oath requires you to make true presentments
of all matters and things that may be laid
before you. 1t requires at least twelve Of
your number to find an indictment or true
bill. Some of the indictments, upon which
it will be your duty to act, will charge the
accused with what in law is called misae-
meanor. In all such cases, when the indict-
ment is not found to be true, it will be your
duty to impose the costs upon the county,
or the prosecutor, naming who the prosecu-
tor is. Where the accused is charged with
having committed the offence feloniously,
you have no power over the costs. Your
return will be either true bill, or not true
| bill. If in the discharge of your duties as
! Grand Jurors, you need further instruction,
it will be cheerfully given to you by the
court