The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-08-10
REFORM IN TENNESSEE.
The Grand Jury System

The following narrative Of legal pro
oedOre example Las more effect than
pfecep-. tC eidcidate our su' ject conspic-
GUusly.
A cOncourse of coIored men and wo-
men arranged an excursion, a resolution
w"5 taken una vOce, that as u drink
ing-bOut Is sinful, intoxicating liquors
shall not be sold at the gathering of the
children of God for recreation, and that
all who are addicted to drinking
should stay away, for fear they might
conceal ciandestinelv in their side pock-
els mis- deVilship's sucking bottle. i
strOng-minded sable-hued and sable
vested damsel made a motion which was
SeeJufed by Sly J.; ann. carriad mani
mouslY that ginger-wine, giuger-pop ami
brandy drops be allowed for sale at the
picnic.
Next morning Sly Joe met Big John
and saic 70 him: al know a way to turn
an honest penny to profit, you lucky dog,
you hOaded six bright silver half dollars;
le5 US invest it IN whisky and sell IL at
the pic mic, little way from it. do
the selling and you the drumming and
point the place out to our fellow tipplers
There Is money n i; you are sure Of the
investment and Of half the prof; give
me your hand upon it, old fellow"
As a token Of agreement they clasped
hands and the liquor was purchased. In
due time the excursion took place. At
sunset, when the excursion party left,
Big John went 10 guest Of Sly Joe, but
there were not the least traces of
him to be- found. John was in I'm
pickle; for a number Of days ne put
himself on the scent with indefatige bic
diligeance. At last he tracked him, met
him face ID face, aud called him t. aC-
count Sly Joe, with a reckless indiffer-
ence, said that he had lost the money. A II
rsmOnstTances w,re 80 no purpose, and
| John vowed veugence. He betook him
! self to a young lawyer, and meeting
with q gracious hearing, laid hiz
case before him ard said: 81 am in
want Of god advice"
The lawyer responded: "Good advice
| does not grow on every bush; q two dol
| lar bill will show you plan to recover
| your money"
With some hesitation, John took CT
! Of his musty pock-t-bOok Il two dollar
/ bill, handed it to the lawyer and prick
ed up Iis ears. The lawyer, folding it
neatly, pOcketed it and said: "IadIct
Sly Joe before the grand jury for selling
.
fee viii make good your loss"
81 can bring in my wife as witness
and my good for nothing boy"
"Th9 more the better; they will swell
the fee"
Big John indicted Sly Joe before the
grand Jury, and the latter, in a ragged
ndition, dropped in the open arms Of a
CIziUoI JssId iI.sIsOG ErJs- -ly,se-ra
in the county hotel Joe was tried be
fore the proper tribunal; the trial wa
one time postponed on account Of sick
ness OF the principal witness; Il lawye
to defend his cause was provided by tht
Judge, and according to the principle 0
law and by a verdict of the jury
convicted to q fne of FIVE dollars, anC
cost of suit was set en- him by judge
meat of the court The cost of the trI
vial suit, for the purpose of justice
amounts TO $74 80.
Look at the mOnstrous AMI at the
same time m0ckabls expense which the
people have to gulp Town for the enrich
ment Jf officers 1t will be easy for the
moralized, holding an Official situation
to say: The laws have to be rigorous
" executed, even if heaven and earth
have to be moved Here is my prOnP
answer to this moral preacher with 4
grave air "Hush upl Old birds ar
not caught with chaff or sentimentalities
We are in hopes that men with fine quail
ities Of mind and heart will adorn our
next Legislature, who, pulling of thei
coats and rolling up their sleaVes, vii
perform the extraordinary feat Of chang
ing the form and principle 0. our anti
qustsd grind jury system This would
be grand beginning for the possibility
Al z -
the present rate Of taxation.