The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-02
oyn N+Ey',y 4 0 y7UJDs'a.sE. 81 (



IEIls charge so fssse,s beg eaissand yary OF sh,
1. HnstihlgsS aConst. i Y ~ s
1 iAPASeINt5sTRIBUT TO 5UDGE GDIGaS-
HIS EXAMPLE, no BE FoELoWED-THl
ssGoURT WILL BE AGGRESSIVE as cRIsfl
sIsPEcIAL SrTEETToN CALLED no sBS
i Observation-Disclosures GAstBLINe
4 ESTABLISHMENTS, SHILLING or L1oUot
no MINORS sEAuIs on ELEcTIoNLA LAWS
AND MoFFETTa LIQUoR L4W-DEALERs
/ WHO HAVE NOT TURNED TIE CRANK
TO HAVE THEIR LIeENsEs
RENEWED-THE HEsTiGMauFREPUDIATIon
REFERRED To-BUsINEss DONE. 49,
The April term OF the Hastings Court
was commenced yesterday morning in the
EChancery Courtroom, as the Hastings
Courtroom Is undergoing repairs. The
grand Jury having been sworn in, Judge
George J.. Christian delivered the following
fcharge:
| Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury.-In the
beginning of our labors deem it proper to
remind you OF the greatloss which we have
sustained since this court last met by the
untimely death Of the able, upright, and
fearless Judge who last presided over it
His administration OF the laws was such as
to win the respect and admiration OF all
good people, and his loss will be long fell
in this city and State No one recognizes
that loss more than l do, or can feel it more
keeply, and while this is not the time OF
place for eulogy, I simply desire to say that
as far as I could Judge he did his whole duty
in the way of protecting the lives, the
morals, and the property Of this people,
and he deserved what he has received at
their hands, the plaudit Of "Well done,
good and faithful servant"
You and I have been selected to con.
tinue, as far as we can, the work so faith.
fully performed by him. I have no doubt,
from my knowledge Of each OF you, that
you will come up to the high standard OF
duty which this community has The right to
expect and require at your hands. ] prom
ise you all the aid in my power, and offer
you every facility which the law affords
through me OF bringing to justice eUery
person who has offended against any law
upon the statute-books OF this Common
wealth.
I will. not detain you by commenting on
the antiquity or importance OF your office.
1t is enough to know that, with but slight
changes, it has withstood the innovations of
centuries, and that the blended wisdom OF
ages has devised nothing that will take its
place in securing good order and happiness
in communities.
YOUR OATH, GENTLEMEN,
gives you in crystalliZed form the sub
stance of the high and responsible duties
devolving on you as the grand inquest for
the body of this city. That oath requires
that "you shall diligently inquire, and true
presentments make, OF all such matters as
may be given you in charge or come to
your knowledge touching the present SER
vice; that you shall present no person
through prejudice or ill-wil, nor leave any
unpresented through fear or favor, but in
all your presentments you shall present
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth."n To comply with this oath, gen.
tlemen, you see it is not enough that you
shall retire to your room and simply con-
slider OF the cases that may be sent to
YOU from time to time by the attorney
for the Comnonw ealth; it is your sworn
duty to "diligently inquire" if any offence
has been committed by any person against
the penal laws of this State within your iu-
risdiction, and if such offence has been com.
mitted, then it is your further duty to make
"true presentmeut' OF that fact to this
Court. TO acquit yourselves properly, then,
of your obligation, it is your duty to sum-
mon every officer, policeman, or person In
this city before you whom you have reason
to believe to possess anyinformation proper
for YOUR action, and to examine them fully
We have nothing to do, gentlemen, With
! the
PRoPRIETY OR POLICY OF ANY LAW.
The Legislature determines this; our only
inquiries are-First, has the law been vlo.
| lated and secondly, by whom? AS soon
as we know the first the whole machinery at
the command OF this court must and shall
| be put in motion to find out the second
and to bring the offender to that punish
ment which the law inflcts for its violation
We should studiously bear in mind, gen
tIemcn, that the highest duty as well as the
greatest privilege OF criminal court is tc
shield and protect those whom "preiudice
or rill.will' would falsely accuse OF crime:
and while you can hear no eNcusatory OF
eyculpatory evidence, you should Away:
satisfy YOUR minds that there is pro5d6tt
around for the accusation before you give il
your sanction. We should strive, gentle
men, to rise above the plain OF prejudice
and nassicn, and to administer not only tht
law but Justice TO all. While this cour
will strain every nerve to do its duty in thi
direction, it must recognize the further fac
| that it is established and maintained for tin
prevention and suppression OF crime; tha
crime is essentially aggressive, and thl
/ court must be to that extent aggressive
that it will be found ever ready to crusl
with its heel
THE FOUL HEAD OF CRIME
whenever and wherever it shall be reare,
in our midst. When [ say crime, gentle
men, l do not mean TO limit the term to til
murderer, the burglar, the person who com
mits larceny, or any common offender. bu
| use the term in its most comprehensiY
sense. I mean by it to include all sorts Q
offences against the lawssof this Common
wealth, wherever and by whomsoeyer com
mtted, within the jurisdiction OF this Court
l.The law makes no distinction OF persons
and we, as the agents employed for its aG
ministration, must know no onein the dis
charge of the high and responsible dutie
which are imposed on us.
TO gentlemen selected as you are wit
special reference to your intelligence an.
high moral characters it is not necessary o
even desirable that this Court should at
tempt to enumerate all the matters that ar
contemplated by law for your considera
/ ton. Your responsibility to God and you
! fellow-men, your enlightenment as citizen
of this city, with your. knowledge OF 1t
varied wants and interests, and the vita
necessity to all OF faithful administrator