Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-20
CRIMINAL COURT.
Charge Of Judge FIIppIn to the Strand Jury.
lie Hits DHelists a Llck-.-The usuaI On
slausht On Vice 6eneraIiy.

He Hits DHelists a Llck-.-The usuaI On
slausht On Vice GeneraIiy.
Gentlemen of the Grand JuYy-I shall
charge you briefly, calling your attsntfon
to those avs which I am required to give
you in special charge, and to such ogher
laws which at this time I cannot over
look without disregarding my conscien-
ious convictions Of duty. Into your
hands is committed the accusing power
of the State. All violations of the crimi-
nal law are cognizable by you. 1t is my
province to indicate to you the general
outlines of your duties. Prosecutions
are commenced either by -presentment or
Indictment. If by presentment it should
be upon the personal knowledge of some
one of you; If by indictment upon the
testimony Of witnesses. You are also
authorized, however, to make present.
ments in certain enumerated cases by
sending for witnesses where you suspect
a violation of the laws. This will be ex-
planned more fully hereafter.
CONCEALED WEAPONS.
The law in reference to the sale and
carrying of concealed weapons cannot be
too deeply impressed upon you. The
violation of these statutes have been the
fertile source of more crimes thar per-
haps the violation of all other statutes
together. 1t is a great evil which should
be suppressed In a moment of impulse
an injury is inflicted which time cannot
heal, a crime is committed at which hu-
manity shudders. Gentlemen, law-abid-
ing citizens seldom have need to carry
concealed weapons, and those who are not
gentlemen, but l8wless characters, should
be forbidden to carry them. I ask you at
thfa ana=sA. 20 ha-l 49, IL
determination oIth evil.s
BOWIE KNIVES, DIRKs, ETC.
The law forbids the sale and use of
bowie knives. 1t will not permit any one
to sell, or to offer to sell, or to bring into.
the State for the purpose of selling, or
otherwise disposing of the same, any
bowie knife, or IN other. weapon of the
same form, shape and size.
The law will not permit any one to sell,
give or lend to any minor, any pistol,
bowie knife, dirk or like dangerous wea-
pom except a gun for hunting, and for de-
Tense in travelling.
The law forbids any one from CARRYING
about his person a bowie knife or other
knife or weapon of ike form, shape and
size.
The Law prohibits any one from pub
licly or privately carrying 4 dirk, sword
cane, Spanish s%tiletto, belt or pocket
BAstOA1 VI AbNOlf6Es IL Is uAu6 Ln6 uuEy
of all sherihs, deputy sheriffs, coroners,
justices of the peace and constables, to re-
port all violations of the law to the next
term of the grand jury, after they nave q
knowledge of the same, and if they fail
or refuse to make such report, it is your
duty TO present or indict said officers for
such dereliction of duty. .-t.
DEADLY WEAPONS AND PUBLIC ASSEM-
BLIES.
The law forbids any one attending any
fair, election, race course, or other public
assembly, to carry about his person any
pistol, knife, or other dangerous weapon
Further comment on the necessity of see
ing these laws enforced is unnecessary.
No n has q right to sell spurious or
vinous liquors in less or greater quantity
than a quart, to be drank at or on the
place, without having obtained a license
to do so.
No licensed grocer or other person shall
retail. Spurious liquors on Sunday.
No one shall keep his shop open on cleo
ton days for the sale of liquors.
ILLEGAL VOTING.
All electors are required to vote in the |
civil district or ward In which they reside,
with thu exception that officers holding
the election may vote in any ward or pre-
cinct whers they may hold the election.
No one has a right to impose a false
ticket upon an illiterste voter.
1t is almost unnecessary to state that
gaming is a misdemesnor more wide
spread and ruinOus, perhaps, than All
others. Invoke you to spare it not, as
Stunning whatever shape and form it may.
1t is still an unmitigated, gigantic evil,
poisoning youth and age, and fostering
dissipation and crime. Break it up II
possible.
MIsCBGENATIoN M PROSTITUTION.
The intermarrisge of white persons with
negroes, mulattOes, or persons of mixed
blood, descended from a negro, to the
third generation inclusive, or their living |
together as 3 man and wife, in this State,
is declared to be a felony, and you will
indict all sucn cases.
Indict all officers or acting officers who
are guilty of extOrtiOn; all persons who
are guilty Of open and notorious lewdness
and those keeping houses of prostitution;
ali who are guilty Of public nuisances,
and conspiTacies; all who falsely
to act as officers.
THE CRIME OF DUELING.
See if the dueling law has been yio-
lated, either by ths giving, carrying or
accepting a challenge TO fight a duel either
In or out of the State. Homicide in a
duel, the law denominates murder, and
hose who were present, aiding or abet-
ting accessories before the fact, and pun
lshabie in this State as principals in the |
1rst degree. The giving, carrying or ac-
a challenge to fight a duel, either
n or out of the State, is a felony, punish
able by Imprisonment in the p~enitentiary.
This, n perhaps some other statutes.
have been practically dead; see if they
been violated; if SO, by your ener-
yetic action vitalize them. Report any
'pecies of lawleSsness, whether 1t be the
,o~ld-blooded assassination along our
'treets and highways, or what is thought
less revolving homicide, ~spTinging from
sense of a mistaken and pseudo ehiv-
dry, the barbarous relic of a barbaric
1ge. Show yourselves the vanguard of a
public sentiment han has been
imposed, heretofore, to have existed ia
his community. Do so, aud you will re-
Give the thanks of all l~aW-abiding citi-
ems, and what is sWeeter and better, the
'pproval of your own enlightened con-
ciences.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. {
In the following cases, when you sus-
a violation ofthe law, you are clothed
With authority to send for witnesses and {
o examine Them: {
LIST, Gaming; End, Illegal Voting: srd. !
4th, Disturbance of Public Z
Worship; 9Th, Injuries to Public Build (
ngs; 9th, The Carrying of Concealed ]
Weapons; 7th, The Sale of Weapons to !
.finors, or the sale, giving or delivery of I
liquors to minors.
You should look into the condition and /
Management of the county jail and the I
t~her.county buildings and institutions :
q tie county. Z
Inquire, too, into the condition of the j
ounty treasury, and into the bonds Of all {
ounty officers, as 10 their correctness 1
nd sufdclency, and into the miscon- 1
uct in office OF county officers. Be GER
ain and do these things. See as to the 7
of roads and highways. You 4
re fully empowered at all reasonable
to have access to all county Offices
buildings.
Let no considerations induce You to I
pare any violatOrs of law, whether high T
r low, rich or poor. Observe your oaths. /
nd you can but do your duty.
AVOIDING NEEDLESS z
But in this connection it Is proper to I
emark, indict nc one unless YOU are I
atisfed from the proof before you the 1
can be maintained. Ignore P
cases., for they will involve the /
tate or county in needless expense. \
gain, l would suggest that it is Alto /
ether impractiesble to find a great Rum- Q
er of indictments OF presentments \
gsinst any particular person for mis- +
emeanors, unless you are satisfied that II
1ch cases can be sustained by proof. and n
lat the lines and costs of court can be
elected from the defendant. The object n
{ these prosecutions is to suppress the d
lenses, and not to put money into the Il
of court officials, however meri- D
they may be, and this object can v
Q as well attained by diminishing the
lumber of cases and increasing the fines is
yainst the parties, thereby saving i'm s
bills of costs to the county. In
ow many cases you win ind indictments is
= nFnGanfVnanE "a q nuT0cffnn nF nolFu- 4 -