Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-04
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
Judge WaIdrnn's Charge Oh
the Municipal Court
Grand Jury.
A Thorough and Searching
Investigation Ordered.

Jury OF the Municipal Court compila-
ton Of that scorching scrutiny into the
corruptions and frauds in certain Official
quarters, which was begun and aban-
doned by their predecessors. In his
charge to the jury, given in open court
yesterday, Judge Waldran, throwing
aside all party trammes and prejudices,
pointed out the only path Of duty
to be pursued in dealing with those
who have forfeited the respect OF
all honest men aud rendered themselves
liable to prosecution in The courts. We
give such excerpts from this charge as
point most directly 10 the rotten and
fostering portions Of the body polite and
which he calls upon his jury to probe,
even to the quick. After calling atten-
ton to the ordinance providing that
every officer or appointee Of said Metro
politan Police shall, on the first day OF
each month, Gle with the Mayor, of the
city of Memphis a statement, under
oath, showing the amount in money or
property that they have received or
which has passed through their hands,
as rewards for services, for captures or
seizures, for levies or assessments, or in
any manner, or for any purpose what
ever, from all persons during the pre-
ceding month, giving the name of those
from whom received, what for, etc, he
charges the jury as follows:
81 am informed by the Mayor that the
provisions of this section have not been
complied with in single instance. No
blame ought to be attached to the rank
and file of the police force for the non
compliance with this act, when the Com.
missioners themselves are violators of
this law. Unfortunately there is no pen
atty affixed for the violations of this
section. The Code simply makes it a
misdemeanor. 1t would seem that q
decent respect for the opinion Of ones
neighbors. for public opinion, would
prompt the ommissoners to com
ply with the act of the Legis-
lature and thereby remove from
themselves even the appearance of evil.
verify believe that there is not candid
man within the jurisdiction of this Court
but believes that the Chief and the Finan-
cial Commissioner have been guilty of
Incorporating the public funds-have
been guilty of appropriating these funds
for political and personal purposes, and
there is not at this time any power under
heaven or among men but you thirteen
Grand Jurors, that can ferrit out this
matter and bring the offenders to justice.
Every good citizen demands that you
shall do this. The financial interests
of the city and State demand it.
Your oath requires it Of you, and the
! Court charges you SO to do. You
will proceed by the most direct route in
search of truth. You will have brought
before you the Tax Collector with the
records of his office. You will examine
the police records of the several station.
houses, and the public records appertain-
ing to the duties of the Police Commits
sioners. You will examine those who
have said records Of the capture and re-
turn of stolen property. You will have
| brought before you the keepers and IN
mates of houses of ll-fame; the pro-
prietors of all keno houses, faro banks
and gambling houses, all those who have
kept them within the past year, and you
will say to them, Unbosom yourselves
and this court will protect them.
He also calls attention to the practice
of carrying concealed weapons, and the
effects of the practice upon the peace
and good order of the community, and
says; You will indictevery person who
carries concealed weapons, and if you
indiet any one who comes within the
provisions of this act, let him show the
fact upon his final trial, or bring the mat
ter to the notice oftLeCourt." The balance
of the charge points to other matters
equally deserving attention and correc-
ton; and if the Jury perform as faithfully
their duty as the judge has his, it is to
be hoped better condition OF things
may be brought about, and dishonesty
rendered as Improbable as honesty is
pou