The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-14
THE PRESS.
wEDNESDAYMORNING, FEB. IA, 1879.
Inside the Grand Jury Room.
COL. KNOX GIVES HIS EXPERIENCE AS A
GRAND JUROR,

COL. KNOX GIVES HIS EXPERIENCE AS A
GRAND JUROR.
In the March number of Scribners Month
ly, Col. Thomas W. Knox, member OF
Judge Bedfords's Grand Jury, describes some
OF the scenes which have attended the long
session OF that body. We copy the following
passages from advance sheets:
A TOUCHING CASE.
Not many days after we were convened. a
case that touched the heart of every man in
the room was brought before us. A Young
girl had been accused of theft; few dollars
in money had been stolen; it was found in
her possession, and she had made partial con-
fession. The complainant was a woman, and
the accused had been in her employ. When
the case was called the woman entered the
jury room and was sworn by the foreman.
She took the chair assigned to witnesses, and
the foreman questioned her.
''Did you lose some money?'
"Yes, SIR"
''When did you lose it?'
"On the first day of December"
"Who took it ?,' .
''The girl named in the complaint"
'How do you know she took it ?"
Il found it in her possession, and she con-
fessed taking it."
''That will do you can CO."
But the woman kept her seat, and moved
her hands uneasily. "You can go,' said the
foreman again, but she did not start. A ju-
ror sitting near the door rose to show her out
and as he did so the woman said:
Il do not wish to press the complaint. /
want to withdraw it, and have the girl re-
leased" s.Nr
''Why so?' askhd the foreman.
Because" "and her voice began to choke,
because the girl i young, and do not wish
to ruin her. Somebody else urged her to
steal the money, and / think she will do bet
ter in future. If send her to prison she
may be professional thief, but if l give her
chance she will be a good girl. She is an
orphan and has no friends, and want to be
mercfull, and beg you to be merciful, gen.
temen." l 1z.
Halfher utterance was drowned with tears,
which flowed rapidly down her face. The
foreman told her to step outside and he
would call her again in few moments, and
inform her of the result of her eloquent APP
peal. "Be merciful, gentlemen" were her
last words as she closed the door,"
It was voted to dismiss the complaint, and
when the foreman called her to the room,
told her of tffe vote, and commended for her
: Kindness of heart, her tears flowed afresh land
she thanked as through broken sobs. know
that q that loom more eyes than hers were
wet-eyes not accustomed to tears.
A DOUBT ARISES.
But soon discussion arose as to the pro-
priety of our action. When the Grand Jury
was empannelled, the following oath was ad-
ministered to the foreman:
'You, Lucius S. Comstock, as foreman of
this grand inquest, shall diligently inquire and
true presentment make of all such matters and
things as shall be given you in charge; the
counsel for the people of this State, your fel-
lows and your own, shall keep secret; you shall
present no one from envy, hatred or malice
nor shall you leave any one unpresented
through fear$favor, affection or hope of re-
You shall present all things truly as
they came to your knowledge, according to
SQaT understanding. So help you Godp'
<And Is the other members the following
oath was administered:
''The same oath which your foreman has
! taken on his part, you and each of you shall
well and truly observe and keep ON your part.
So help you God!'
THE DOUBT SETTLED.
Some of the jurors thought that we had no
right, under our oath, to show favor, no mat
ter how strong might be the appeal to our
sympathies. Every man in the room wished
to be lenient, but at the same time, above all
other things, wished to do his duty. The dis
cussion resulting in our sending for the Dis
trict Attorney and asking his advice
After hearing the'case he said there was a
difference of opinion as to the power of a
Grand Jury. you can undoubtedly, he
continued, exercise your discretion in GER
tain cases, and act as you think for the best
interests of society. 1t is both right and
proper that the Grand Jury, and also the
District Attorney, should be clothed with a
discretionary power, as it frequently happens
than they can do more good by exercising II
than by following the strict letter of the
law" fia