New Orleans Republican., 1875-10-05
COURT RECORD.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1875.

Superior Criminal Court.
The panel of petit Jurors is not yet com.
plete. The following is the grand jury
selected:
A; =; Woods, fore, ysr1y L Donovan Donovan,
Abraham A. Yates, s. E. Gleason,
Robert Upshur, H. c. Stone,
Paul Travigne, Charles Ramel,
Henry Washington, jesse Blakely,
w. G. Kinsella, c. F. RAYMOND,
Henry Armstrong, Adolph Victor.
Martin Finnerty,
Judge Steele charged the grand jury as
follows:
Gentlemen-In compliance with the law,
/ have seleeted you from the list OF jurors
to serve as grand Jury during the present
session of this court.
To make this selection has been some
what difficult task for me under the crcuul-
stan GEE, but 1 feel assured you will be
found worthy of the important trust.
You are now duly lmpaneled as the grand
inquest for the parish of Orleans, to act
during the ensuing three months.
In thi2 important position you can not
overestimate the great responsibility that
rests upon you.
Under our sy stem of government. all We
hold most dear-our domestic peace, life,
liberty and reputation-are intrubted to the
integrity of our grand juries.
--AUAi uuty Will 10 AnO9e 0OAC0tO UuCg III
many instances being called upon to inquire
into the action OF your neighbors and
friends. Peace and quiet, with perfect Sc
curity for life and property, are what we
seek in society, and these can only be se-
cured by vigorous, impartial enforcement
of the laws. 1t has been well said by q
popular writer upon legal ethics that affec-
tionate loyalty to the law In q republic like
personal attachment to the king in mon
archy, should be the spirit of the people.
Obedience to even bad law while it exists
is q very necessary sacrifice to higher
good, while disobedience or evasion OF any
law, approved or connived at by public
opinion, opens the hood gates to wide
spread ruin and disorder in the community.
No permanent good is ever gained by
violent opposition to an unjust or obnoxious
law-it is like the execution of q criminal
by mob, while il may be just go far as the
offender is concerned, still we know that it
is most dangerous attack upon the secu-
rity of every citizen in the community. To
secure this respectful devotion of the people
10 the law SO necessary to our peace and
prosperity the people must see that Justice
is fairly administered If the people feel
that the administration of the law is partial
or partisan disorder and confusion are the
natural and nc cessary consequences. 1t is
to the integrity of the Judiciary alone we
must look for public peace or personal &C.
curity. The law must protect the rights of
the humblest citizen from invasion even by
the win OF the majority with the same
faithful impartiality that it should bring
the criminal to justice, regardless of his
wealth or power.
You will be assisted in your investiga-
tions by the counsel for the State who will
advise you as to the law when called upou
to do 30.
/ will now invite yonr attention for
moment while give you q general outline
of your duties. Your deliberations will be
in seci iets Your foremrn has authority to
administer oaths to the witnesses who may
come before you and he will act as your
presiding officer during your settings.
The oath of secrecy you have just taken
remains binding even after you are die
charged from this service as grand Jurors,
and it should apply to all that trarspires in
your jury room. This is intended for the
plants to you, as well as for your own pro-
lection. 900 49, -
Your body is composed Of sixteen jurors,
the concurrence of any twelve of whom,
with or without your foreman, is sufficient
to find true bill; 80 that with the oath of
secrecy it remains impossible for any one
you5s ~ hs to say now ind
upon any measure. You should resist any
attempt by outside parties to inquire into
your business as you would any other at
tempt to corrupt you. -5stl
You will confne yonr Investigations to
such offenses committed within the parish
of Orleans rs under the law come within
the Jurisdiction Of this court. You will find
the Jurisdiction Of this court defined in Sec
ton one Of act No. 124, session of 1874,
which will be furnished to you with the
other criminal statutes Of the State for
references. 1lfsa-- t,sl 7la ..s.