Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-30

being not that would have you rush into an
investigation of every idle rumor, to the
burden of the county, but that when you have
reasonable grounds to believe that a
party has come to his or her death
by any of the ways, means or manners here
tofore indicated, and no explanation entire
~ satisfactory be given by the accused mot
by him given before you, for he cannot be
received by you as wtness) you will not
fail out OF any considerations personal to
yourselves, or from the personsl standing of
any. hesitate in your action, and find true
bill. You are not to determine the final
guilt or innocence of any person. That duty
is to be performed by a trial jury, when the
defendant has full opportunity to be heard,
both in person and by counsel In other
words, your duty is to find bill, when from
all the evidence adduced before the State
makes out a prl1n0 .tacie case against the
accused.
Gentlemen, having thus briefly called your
attention to the law, and your duties, as I
understand them, in connection with sub
jects presented, I will, in connection with
my charge concerning the alleged homicide,
and as german to your Investigations: pro-
vided you should find from careful exami-
nation of the testimony relative thereto,
that the charge is false and untrue present
for your consideration the law upon the sub
ject Of libel.
libel may be defined as a malicious
defamation OF the character, conduct, or
doings of another, written, printed, &C.,
amongt other things, imputing the commits
sion OF crime, tending to injure, blast, or de-
grade the name, reputation, character, &C.,
of dead or living persons.
The law recognizes this as an offense as
giving occasion to breaches of the peace. and
subversive of the welfare of society. It is
true that the law mockingly tells us that
every person is entitled to certain remedy
for injuries or wrongs which be may receive
in person or character, but under the ad-
ministration of our American system of
laws, the license of the defamer is only
equalled by the supineness of its enforce
ment or the absurdity of its attempted exc
cution. This, however, should not deter
you, if occasion demands your intervention,
from the plain line of duty. It is your duty
to present things as they come to your
knowledge, and it will not be the fault of the
court If the wholesale practice of traducing
private character in defiance of
personal rights does not for once meet with
check. Nevertheless, you will remember
that the organic law of our State, provides
that all persons may freely write, speak and
publish, their sentiments being held re-
sponsible for the abuse of such rights in the
malicious defamation of Others
In conclusion, gentlemen, while 1 hope
you will use all necessary dispatch, in the
discharge of your duties, I hope also that
none 60 UNPUBLISHED through favor or affec-
ton. Much pressure may be brought to
bear upon your action, unheed it, listen not
to it, no matter from what source, or from
whence. Llet not the standing of any influence
your minds, bias your action, or control
your honest convictions. Conscientious
justice should descend alike upon all, with
out distinction or discrimination Your
duty is before you. It is plain. Discharge
it. E.. ST.. JULIEN Cox.