The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-08-14
DIsTRlCT CRIMINAL cOrgr.


The criminal term of tho District
Court Of Dallas county convened Mon
day, His Honor, Judge Sias Hare,
presiding. After empanncling the
grand jury His Honor proceeded t.
charge them substantially rs follows:
Gentlemen OF the Grand Jury;
had INDUCED the hope that the
progress of civilization, and the al
vnnccment aid culture of the county,
would arrest the commission of crime,
and render the inqulsitorial
powers of grand juries Il
mere nominal province. But
unfortunately for the good order, peace
and quiet Of the county, daily occur
rences of violation of the law bring
into requisiton your services, and de-
mand ut your hands strict and impair
tial investigation OF all oilensps against
the laws of your state.
II Is much to be regretted that the
courts OF the country, aided by efficient
and vigilant officers, have so far failed
to entirely suppress the commission Of
crime; and the partial failure can only
be rcnedied by Il still more thorough
and exhaustive investigation of the
commissions of all oilcnses.
That crime has, to great extent, been
diminished, by reason of the faithful
discharge of duty upon the part of the
courts and juries of the country, no one
will question. Yet much remains to
he done. In one sense, you are the
guardians and protectors, rs it were,
OF the peace, property and person OF
the citizens of Dallas county. To you
they look for protection-by indict-
ment or presentment against hose who
infringe the laws of the State. Pref
erence or Partially should never enter
into deliberations, nor should you al
low sympathy or commisseration to
influence or bias you in determining
whether the offenders should be held to
answer for the crimes they may have
committed. You should also bear in
mind that the indictment or present.
ment is no conviction of the offender
does not pass upon his guilt or inno-
cence but is a solemn preferment of Il
charge against him, which the laws of
the country require him to answer.
And while you should not be biased by
favor, you should neither be influenced
by prejudice or personal animosity. a
fair and impartial investigation of the
commission of oilenses is all that the
law requires of you, and all that the sc
curity of your felluw-citizens demands
of you.
No other course will secure the safety
and protection of property, per
son or life, and the violators of
the law will go unwhipped of
Justice, and leave the innocent at the
mercy of the vicious.
His Honor then proceeded to emu
merate the many offenses created by
statute, and especially invited the at
tention of the grand jury to their con-
sideration. The entire charge was
plain, clear and concise, and was de-
livered in such n manner AS to not only
be comprehended by the jury, but fully
appreciated.
The following citizens compose the
grand jury: w. w. Sebastian, fore
man; II. J. Mclean, S. w. Caldwell,
j. w. Daniels, w. II. Prnther, Sloan
Jackson, James Thomas, John e. Glib
son, Henry Lively, ID. NJ. l.. Gracey,
Samuel Brundage, William Jordan,
Samuel Ule, G. w. Skyles, H. b. Storey
TaZewell Jones and William ELAN, Jr
Wallace West, charged with the
murder of n man named Montgomery,
in this county, in October, 1872, was
brought before His Honor on writ
of habeas corpus. After hearing the
evidence, the court ordered his release
on his filing bond in the sum of
eight thousand dollars.
The case of. III. Hobach, on motion
of defense, was continued until next
term of court.
Ed. Basyc, gaming dismissed.
Pleasant Purdy, cutting timber on
land not belonging to himself; dis
missed.
William Station, carrying pistol; dis
missed.
Alex. Cornett, carrying pistol dis
missed.
Dick Turpin, gaming dismissed.
Sett. Cornett, carrying pistol dis
missed.
Frank Weaver, theft; dismissed.