The Grange advance., 1874-09-16
Judge mcN0100ra Take Like q
Lover Of G00A Order and Justice,
and Like 4 C1aampioa o1 the Law,
to the Grand Jury Of Osvoa
County, Ky.

The following is the charge by Judge
McNamara, delivered at the opening of
Court at Owenton, Owen county, KY,
on the 7th inst:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JrRY-It is
perhaps the first time in the history of
Owen county, when citizens have ever
sat in court, where there was not sin
gle man that had concealed deadly
weapons upon his person.
You have been summoned here to-
day on important business affecting the
people of the whole State, and particu-
larly of your own county. 1t has been
heralaed throughout this and other
commonwealth of the Union, that
Owen county is in state Of insurrec-
ton that law in your midst is disre-
garded, human life insecure, and the
courts and their officers set at defiance
and held in utter contempt. Now,
sirs, may I ask you, as the grand in.
quest Of the country, is this true and
if it be, how lorg will you allow this
state Of affairs to remain! May I even
express the hope that you, as one Of
the coordinate branches of the court,
will do what is expected by the good
citizens of Owen county that you will
rise above all personal differences, and
manfully discharge that high duty that
the laws of your State enforce upon
you.
No sixteen gentlemen ever had a high
er, more exalted position than you oc.
cupy to-day. As the grand inquest Of
your country, the good people every
where, with hope and high expectation,
are looking at you and your conduct
in the discharge Of your duty with feel
ings of pleasure and delight. OF this
fact l need not remind you, that offend
ers can only be brought to punishment
through the action Of the grand Jury.
You are the propelling power; you are
the source from whence the people can
only expect protection. And now
warn you that unless you have come
for the purpose of patiently, diligently
and impartially discharging your duty
better by far you had remained ii
home.
I have been a member of the bar ia
years, and never have I seen a grand
jury impaneled in your. county, when
the hotel and saloon keepers did moi
send to them whisky and cigars. This
is indeed humiliating; yet there is nc
purer truth than this recorded in thu
book of books. Not intending wanton
~ to wound the feelings of any of you,
| predecessors. it is to them burnin,
shame, and to say the least Of it disre
putable to the fair name Of Kentucky
courts. ~
lam but one man, and can do onl,
the work with which you furnish me
but if any gentleman expects favors o,
considerations apart from the faithful
and honest discharge Of duty, let him Q,
them, during my official life, be at. ono,
undeceived. Law breakers and male
factors are no associates Of mine, ant
never receive an official smile. Will,
l do not propose to step aside from tn,
line Of duty, I do intend to- catch an<
hold to the utmost rigor Of the law ev
cry one who does not respect, as tn,
chief rule of'human conduct, the law i,
al its truth, and without which yo1
have no society or protection. ',>' )
i am informed, and being Informed
deem it my duty to state to, you, tina
nearly . year ago n poor, defenceles
boy was shot and killed on the streets
Of Monterey, in this :. county, and tfo1
which killing the party was duly an,
regularly indicted fory murder by! ,
grand jury Of your county. The part,
SO charged 1t once fed the country an,
remained III exile tius but 1.-TWO dry,
since when he returned to town, and ii
now armed with deadly weapons, an'
i rom I'd far h0rrs, iirifhif = 4 .<fnnns