Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-16
The Grand Jury Summons Eewspa-
per Reporters Before the Grand
0Onelave on General
Information.
HeW the Old Thing WOrks--An In.
side View Of the Espionage.

~HN SNoi1Soo etO Vi 9ASh SHeAoSeOa efoe
they become acquainted, like doctors
and preachers. with too many weaknesses
OF poor human nature, to disclose which
would not Only be unprofessiODal but
would impair their usefulness as news
paper reporters. II a reporter is to be
summoned every term of the Criminal
Court before the grand juries
to give information against all
persons and forced % become the prose-
csting witness on indictments against
his fellow-men, then that reporter may
as well retire from the journalistic pro.
~fessiou, because his occupation is gone
except as a e and d maker of costs
for the Criminal Court officials. The
present grand jury, for some cause or
other, broke over the usual fence that by
courtesy protected reporters from being
placed under espionage. A reporter 10
search Of information for his paper has
to visit all classes Of people and all kinds
of places, but when it becomes known
that be is "espper" for the Criminal
Court and a prosecuting witness on in.
dictments but little news will be furn-
ished him about anything.
A few days since the constable Of the
grand jury, Tom Gsrvey, observing our
reporter in the Office Of the Criminal
Court drew out a legal document and
summoned him before the grand jury to
give general information. On the sub.
peua were the names of other represen.
tatiyes of the press. Our man was inform.
ed that he would be expected to confront
the grand jurors on Monday morning at
10 o'clock, at which hour the grand in
QUESTION would be in session.
THE INSIDE BUSINESS.
At the appoiated hour our representa-
live had to neglect his legitimate bust.
ness and present himself in the ante
room of the iuquisition. he was intro.
duced to the deputy clerk Of the Crimi-
nal Court, and vas sworn to give testi.
mony before the grand jury according to
law. Soon be was admitted to the jury
room, in the centre Of which was a table
and around which the grand inquisitors
sat in state ready to examine witnesses.
Our representative was cross.examined
by FIVE Of the grand jurors, including the
secretary or clerk OF the jury. he was
asked a series Of categorical questions, in
substance as follows:
What's your name and where do you
reside2"
DO you know Of any violations OIL law
that took place within the past six
months2n
DO you know anything about gamb.
bling being carried on in MemphisP"
DO you know Of any liquor selling on
Sunday"
IF so, when and where2'
did you ever take q drink in a saloon
on Sunday2'
ibid you pay for it, or did any other
person pay for it2"
How many times did you take driuks
on Sunday n
AT What places did you drink, and
who are the proprietors of the same2"
DO you drink more on Sunday than
on any other daJY'
DO you know Of any act of corrup
ton in office committed by the police2"
DO you know of any policeman ar.
resting men and on the way to the sta
t~ion.hOuse turning them loose for
money!
"Do you know of any disreputable
places2 if so, by whom are they kept2'
The above questions are merely ex-
amples Of those asked of the witnesses
before the grand jury.
SEVERAL GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
The grand jury system as at present
in vogue needs revision badly. The GER
tlemen who compose the grand jury have
to be governed by the law and send for
persons and papers whenever they are
investigating misdemeauors or crimes.
The trouble is that too many people are
summoned and dragged away from their
business to be cross examined on mat
tiers occurring within the past six
months, matters too in which they have
no interest and do NOT desire any. No
good citizen wishes to be forced into the
position Of a public prosecutor or prose-
cutting witness on indictments found
against his fellow. citizens for little mis-.
demeanors, such as selling liquor on
Sundays" ETC., and when he is so forced
into a false position he feels like paying
the foe and costs which he by legal COM
pulsion was forced to aid in assessing.
The better way with reference to these
misdemeanors which are made 80
ugly by statute, would be to use the
police force as witnesses. They are con.
SENATORS Of the peace and are sworn to
enforce the laws as 10 all these thinos
They know who sells liquors on Sundays,
who keep faro banks and other kinds Of
gambling houses, who keep d~isreputable
establishments and who violate the stump.
tuAry laws Of the State.
The officers Of the Criminal Court and,
in fact, many OF the grand jurors, know
quite as much about gambling, selling