Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-03-21
Charge Of the Hon. R. j Bowie to the
Grand Jury.
inNrLEMry on me GnANp JunY

Perhaps in view Of the charges recently de.
| livered, and your own familiarity with the du-
ties of your office, any charge may be super
auous, and in the judgment Of many, unneces-
| sary.
Indeed, some most distinguished Judges
have considered the practice Of charging
| Grand Jury more honored Sin its breach than
| its observance :" but. independently of the
obligation implied in the oath administered to
| 10 You, we think that whatever tends to Gre
ate more thorough cooperation between CO.
laborers in the same cause, should be encour-
aged.
We, therefore cordially congratulate our
selves that we have so intelligent and expert
enced "a body of gentlemen Of the county toa aid
us in the administration Of the criminal juris-
dicion OF the Court
The object of all civil government is, the
peace and happiness of the community, and
the security OF its citizens in reputation, person
and property.
All its departments, Executive, Legislative
and Judicial, are organized and supported for
! this end and all our expenses, Federal Ma
lional, or State, Civil and Military, are incur
red for individual safety and protection.
The means provided by the Constitution and
/ laws Of our State, ample, and admirably
adapted to secure 'the greatest good Of The
greatest number" if the people, and the pub
lie servants are faithful 10 the trusts confideI
| TO them.
The laws cannot execute themselves officers
will become remiss there must be overspers
OF those entrusted with authority, 10 call them
to account. This is the position You occupy
/ The wisest and most efficient agency which
/ the experience OF ayes has devised for he pro-
1 lection Of the State and the citizens from
/ wrong, is the institution Of the Grand Inquest
They bear both the spear and the shield Of
/ the State.
/ With the one they probe into the recesses
/ Of fraud, felony and crime, and drag TO light
the offender With the other they shelter the
/ innocent from false accusation and punish
ment, aud defeat the designs Of malicious in
1 formers
Dvested Of all prejudice or passion, or With
out fear or affection or hope Of reward, they
stand at the doors Of Justice and declare who
have violated the law and should be prosecu-
led or who have been unjustly accused and
ought to be discharged and without their fiat
no man can be arraigned or found guilty
body Of men selected with special regard
for their intelligence, sobriety and integrity,
irresponsible to any other tribunal in their
collective capacity, invested with this immense
power, although brief in duration, wieds
vast moral influence, for good or evil in the
circle of their authority.
The law expects that they will be vigiIant
that they will diligently inquire, and true pre-
sentiments make, unawcd BY fear, unseduced
by affection or hope Of reward. Yet the law
does not expect them to pry inqnsitvely into
domestic or private affairs or magnify mere
faults into misdemeanors and crimes
Their oath is to inquire, not to Try; they are
10 hear no other evidence than that addnced
by the State, and then only legal evidence;
and they should be Convinced in their con-
sciences there is probable ground for accnsa-
ton.
Such, gentlemen, is feint outline of the
general powers invested in YOU.
To enable you to execute them efficiently !
the Constables Of the county will be sworn to
testify to you Of any oifenscs thai have come
to their knowledge all witnesses recognized
to appear before the Court will also lie sworn
and subject 20 FOUR examination, and such
witnesses as you may desire will he summoned
lon will supervise all the public interests of
the county; the conduct Of all public officers,
judicial, administrative or executive.
Inspect the Alms-IIouse and Jail; inquire
into the condition Of the highways aud bridges;
the conduct of the public schools, and present /
any wliul act Of omission or commission pre- |
judicial to the public, and contrary 10 law.
Violations of the License Laws, particularly |
the vending of spirituous liquors without IL /
cense, and to minors, should be rigidly prose
cnted, as thereby the public morals. tie peace
aud happiness Of families, the characters and /
lives OF many citizens, as well the public |
revenue, viii be protected and preserved
:.
'Crimes and Punishmenls,' viii furnish you
Il catalogue of the oifenses against the public
peace, etc, Of which il will he your duty par
licu'arly to inquire
We are happy 10 say, that as far as the |
Court Is informed, there have been very few, |
tif any oGenses OF II grave character, since
the last Jury Term, and we believe much credit |
is due to The prompt and decided action OF the
late Grand Jury, for he suppresSiug in - great
measure, The tendency to excessive indulgence
10 intoxicating drinks aud consequent riot
disorder and confusion
The Conrt are required by the Act of 1872
chap. 329, to call your attention to its pro-
visions.
SEcrloS l. Be Il enacted 6y the Geucral As !
sea5t4 q Naryiaad. That section two Of arti-
Gle thirty, Of the Code OF Public General Laws
title " Grimes and Punishments." subtitle |
: Detaulters he and the same is hereby re-
pealcd, and re-enacted so as to read as follows
SEC. 2. AHd be IL el,actea, Tint il any Clerk
Register Of Wills, Sheriff Collector of Taxes,
Notary Public, or other officers whose duty
it is to collect revenue due the State of Mary
land or any county thereof shall, afer the
receipt Of the said revenue by him, wilfuly
detan the same in his possession and neglect |
TO pay the same into the Treasury Of the State
or to the County Commissioners, or the pro- |
per officer authorized to receive the same. for
more than sixty days after the day upon which
l. Is IndIe Nv law the uulE 10 nav tue same. |
or il no particular day be appointed by law
for said payment, and such officer shall de-
tam any revenue due to the State or to any
county thereof, and which il is his duty to
collect, and which he shall have collected and
shall neglect to pay the same into the Treasury
OF the State, or 10 the County Commissioners 1
or the proper officer authorized to receive The
same, for the space of six months after he shall
have so collected the same such officer so Of
| Tending in either case, shall be deemed TO be
IA delaulter, and upon indictment and con-
vicliou thereof shall in addition to any other
penalties already provided by law. be for each
offeuse imprisoned in the State Penitentiary
not less than one year nor more than FIVE
years, unless the amount for which he is
deiaulicr be sooner paid, and the certificate
OF the Comptroller Of the State of MARYLAND,
or OF the respective Clerks Of the County Com
missioners, showing The accused 20 he a de-
faulter, shall in every prosecution under this
section, be received as prjR,a facia evidence of
such defalcation, and the judges Of the Courts
having criminal jurisdiction in the State shall
Aive this law in charge TO the Grand JureS
summoned TO their respective Courts
We should be sorry 20 think there is any
case in this county requiring your action IN
der this amendment of the Code; yet as it is
imperative on the Court TO give it to you in
charge, it is equally your duty TO inquire
whether any violations OF the law in that re-
spect, have been committed ii
BLIND SoLDIEE'S WIFE-A Washington
CORRESPONDENT of the louisville Co,frier writes