Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-01-08
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
County Court.


The County court met January Sd, 1870, being
q regular term Hon. A. ]. Felter presiding.
The following proceedings were had
grand jury was impanneled, composed of
the following persons W.. Tinniu (foreman)
VIM. Clement, Jos. Craig, B. S. Guptil, NJ. Ca
balan. W. W. Allen, James Carson, John w.
Carter, Geo. P. Chapman, John S. FerIier, o. NJ.
GRAY, T. E. Jones, c. H. Bartlett, James Benton,
Henry Hooker, John Martini Richard Brown.
Several jurors summoned not being present
we're fined $25 each.
After the jury was mpanneled and sworn,
Judge Telter delivered the following charge
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: You have been
called here from among your fellow-citizens in
accordance with law, and are to sit as the grand
inquest for this term to inquire concerning Of
fenses against the people of the State of Califor-
MIA trable within the county of Trinity. Your
general duties are sufficiently defined by your
oath which binds you under the most solemn
obligations to present no person through malice,
hatred or il-will, nor leave any unpresented
through fear favor or affection, or for any re-
ward or the promise or hope thereof. The same
oath bids you to diligent inquiry rs well as true
presentment. You will not acquit yourselves of
these obligations by slight or careless investiga-
tions. In respect to the mode and extent of
your inquiries your own good sense will be your
best guide. The Distrct-Attorney will always
be ready 10 aid you with information on matters
of law, and the court also will take pleasure in
responding to any inquiries you may fit to
make. In your Investigations of charge, for
the purpose of either presentment or indictment,
YOU shall receive no other evidence than such
as is given by witnesses produced and sworn be-
fore you or furnished legal documentary evil
dence, or the disposition of witnesses taken in
accordance with law. You ought to find an in
dictment when all the evidence before you taken
together is snch as, in your judgement, would,
if unexplained or uncontradcted, warrant a con-
viction by a trial jury. 1t is your duty, gentle
men, to inquire into the case of every person i'm
prisoned in the public prison Of the county on
criminal charge and not indicted ; into the con-
diton and management of the public prison ;
and into the wilful and corrupt misconduct in
office of public officers of every description within
the county. You entitled TO free access at
all reasonable times to the public prison and to
examination, without charge, of all public
records within the county. If any of you gen.
tlemen, know, or have reason to believe, that
public offence has been committed, which is
lriable, within the county, you must declare the
same to your fellow jurors, who shall thereupon
Investigate the same except the Distrct-Attor-
ney person shall be permitted to be before
YOU besides the witnesses actually under exami-
ntion, and no person shall be permitted to be
present during the expression of your opinions
or giving of your votes upon any matter before
you. 1t is the duty of each of you to keep secret
whatever he himself or any other grand juror
may have said, or i'll what manner he any
other grand juror may have voted on a matter
before you. You are not bound to hear evidence
for the defendant, but it is your duty to weigh
all the evidence submitted to you, aud when you
have reason to believe that other evidence within
oh xvil nj aiD fha oh
should order such evidence to oe produced, and
for that purpose may require the District-Attor
ney to issue process for the witnesses.
The court cOngratulates you, gentlemen, and
through you the people of the county, on the
financial condition of the county under the
present county government. The revenues OF
the county for the two years last past has far
exceeded the expenses, and taxation has de-
creased during the same time Our county debt
though large is gradually diminishing, and
under the strict rule of economy now pursued
will finally be extnguished. Crime is almost
unknown within our county limits. The county
hospital is now conducted on an economical
basis, which is continued on the present plan
will eventually clear that institution of its out
standing debt. There seems to be necessity
at this time for further observations from the
court. You will retire TO your rooms, gentle
men, carrying with you, doubt not, in your
retirement the serious obligations you have
taken upon yourselves.
The grand jury was in session one day, and
returning into court presented an indictment
against a Chinaman under arrest for grand lar
ceny, and recommended the jurors resting under
the dispeasure of the court to its clemency, and
thereupon discharged.
The grand jury having found an indictment
against Lee Chow IA Chinaman), for grand lar
ceny, the court appointed G. f. Williams, Esq,
to defend the accased. trial was had on
Wednesday, 9Th instant, and defendant adjudged
guilty. Ten o'clock, Saturday morning, 9Th,
was appointed for rendering sentence.
The action of John Arm (appelant) Us. Lyman
McNeil (resPondent) was set for Thursday, at
one o'clock, Pm. A jury was demanded by re-
pondent, and was impanneled Thursday after
noon. The trial is progressing as we go to
press.