The anti-monopolist., 1878-06-06
TIE INSANE ASYLUM.
Judge Cox's Coarge to the NicoIIett coun-
tY Grand Jury,

ty Grand Jury.
GENrl.rMEN OF TIE GRAND JURY:
The law that has brought us together at
this time provides that the court deliver to
you III charge certain provisions of the stat
ute relative to your duties in the matter of
information or accusations for public ofenses
committed within your jurisdiction, that is,
within your county, and for one hundred rods
beyond the boundary line thereof. And it is
made the duty of the court to read you the
provisions of the statute found on pages
1.036 and 1,O37, to which, aside from my
presentation, your attention is invited, and
which you will carefully examine for your
selves during the progress Of your sittings
as a diligent consideration of their pro-
visions is essential to a correct under
standing of your duties and powers,
and as often neglected. I regret to say, by
those having the duties of grand jurors in
charge. Here the provisions of the staute are
read.3
GENTLEMEN: You will at once perceive
that the duties devolving upon you as grand
jurors. if perfectly discharged, are frequent
you have no friends to reward-no enemies
to punish; your duty is with an eye single to
the public welfare.
Looking abroad over the land from our
prairie homes, we see that crime runs riot
In the land.
Danger threatens US as people from the
fragrant violations of law in high places, as
well as from the lowly in life; the laborer
clamors for bread; others for wealth. One
violates the law, as it were, from a stern ne
cessity, upon whom the law operates with
apparent ferocity. The other buys
his way into power and station,
defying the law or its punishment. How
true seem the lines:
"'Clothe vice with gold, and the strong lance of
Justice hurtless breaks.
Arm II IN rags, and pigmy straw doth pierce
it,
Our standard of morality may be high
enough, but its observance is delusion and
a mockery. Fraud, rascality and chicane in
the attainment of wealth is commended if
TIE perpetrator be successful in his object:
while tho poor man is condemned to the
felon's cell for obtaining the wherewithal
to sustain the life of his wife and little ones.
Much, too much, of this is attributable to
the la administration of our criminal laws
giving to wealth and station advan-
tages IL courts not possessed by the
poor. This is oppression of the vilest
form. and ends in the overthrow
gentlemen of the jury, that the reverse of
this should be the rule. That the higher the
standing Of party, the greater the account
ability, for "unto whom much is given. OF
him the same shall be required and for
offenders of such class, punishment swift
and mcrited should be meted out.
These remarks lead me to part of my
charge. that however unpleasant it may be
to me personally, duty forbds me to shrink
from. and am compelled to give you mat
tars III charge perhaps involving the liability
of some Of our own citizens; but first more
generally
EMBEzzLEMENT.
The mlsappropriation of the public moneys
10y any person having them in charge, has
become SO serious an evil as to call forth
the severest anamadyersions of the
executive branch of our State gov
ernInent, a stinglng commentary upon
the administration of justice. In this con
nction the wilful and corrupt misconduct in
Office of public officers of every description.
is an indictable offense. l place in your
hands report of the last grand jury, as to
the amounts of money charged and received
by certain county officers for services as
such; not to be taken by you as evidence of
the fact. but as guide to You in your inves-
LEGATIONS of the truth of the charges. (Reads
statute
In connection Herewith the law laws it
down, that where an officer neglect5 Il duty
incumbent upon him, he is indictable. Also.
when DUTY is thrown upon body consist
ing of several persons. each is individually
liable for breech of that duty, as well for
acts Of commission as for omission.
II does not appear to be clearly under
stood. am inclined to believe, that offices
are instituted. not for the sake of the officer.
but for tho good of the public, therefore. he
who neglects or refuses to answer the ends
for which his Office is ordained. should give
way to others, and be punished for his ne
glect.
ExroRTIoN.
Closely allied to this class of offenses is
the very contemptible one of extortion. prac-
tioed by those i'll authority. The man who
goes to your drawer and filches therefrom q
penny. is punished very low thief !by
LipC W sAAIillS. but one WHO III authority
overcharges for his services is no better in
principle. certainly not i'll law. when. by vir-
tue of his position. he takes the like amount.
This otfense consists In any officer.
unlawfully taking. by color of his
Office. from any person. any money
or thing of value that is not
due to him. more than is
due. or before il is due. l know of none
such. bu. charge you that it is an indicta-
bile oseuse.
CoxroUSDTSG FELONY.
The compounding or settling offenses and
crimes. applicahiy now especially to felonies
Is iudictahle. | do not know officially of any
such in your midst. but the otfense exists to
an alarming extent throughout the country.
to the great scandal and disgrace of justice
complaint has been made 10 me that num-
ber OF persons are engaged IN a systematic
practice OF swindling farmers. BY means of
false contracts, orders, notes. for lightning
rods. hay forks. etc. The farmer has bet
little time to spare to pos, himself on the
wiles of these men, and these bogus sales
may be indic.ahle oTenses from whom the
farming community may be entitled to your
protection.
/ beg leave 10 cali your attention TO the
laws regulating the sale OF spirisuous. malt
v,~ II