Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-01-15

mn UNUSUAL 0oCOAAnI'- 4ho
Grand Jury for the current term of
the Circuit Court has adjourned after
reaching the usual conclusions, saving
the one contained in the second para
graph, AID which appears to have
some merit as an inquioitorial novelty.
As merely the medium of accusa-
tion, Al old fogy notion probably, 1t
has been commonly regarded that a
grand jury's highest function in q
given case is to ascertain whether a
bill il or is not true-an issue quite
- distinct a. whom, before petit jury,
the alternative is guilty or not guilty.
Being sxolusivsly the judges of the
ca parts testimony before them their
determinations must obviously be
arrived at with more facility than
WHOM, a. in the other case, contradic-
tions are presented and constructions
Of Law bearing upon tho reception OF
evidence, come in to confuse the un-
Demanding and psrplsx the judy
msnt. 1t appears, therefore, that the
findings of the grand inquest, above
all others, should be decisive-one
thing or the othsr-"true" or "tgno-
yar.s." Otherwise, the security
which the institution affords the citi-
zen q q imminent of constitutional
liberty is impaired, if it does not be-
come . mocksry.
In the mysterious case cited the
jury afirms that it "has been unable
to secure sufficient evidence to warrant
then in finding true bill against the
accused" It il to be supposed from
this that some evidence was found,
but whore did they draw the line be-
tween what they secured and what
was necessary And this insufficient
evidence left q "presumption"-"a
strong presumption Of their guilt )"
moreover, ~ if this were not enough
to point the county's finger of damn
ing suspicion ct the accused, the jury
Hopes" its successor will DO able to
secure such further evidence as will
bring the offenders to justice T.
That is loose talking, or it tells Of
the strongest insufficient evidence the
county has lately heard from. Ifthis
jury had inquired into the Morey let
ter forgery and reported its 6ndin g
upon the very expansive basis of in
sufficient evidence. the Briarean indi-
oss Of inculpation would have signaled
guilt in hundred localities.
Literally, what further evidence
il needed to indict offenders ?" and
why should tho duty Of bringing the
offenders to justice" devolvs upon the
next grand jury when the late one
enjoying "a strong Presumption
strong enough to justify them in e1,
pressing . hope that the accused
would be brought to justice-strone
enough to enable them to report offic'
tally that they are offender in con-
nsction with crime-s serious crima
IA very serious crims2" A sufici-
ENJOY Of everything but evidence, Of
which there was not enough to author
ixe the finding Of 4 true bill, but
enough to induce them ill-advisedly
to scatter their strong presumption
broadcast that one ought to be found
We hope our Grand Jury did not
at the moment measure the force and
effect of some bad English, or that
for . brief period, they forgot their
business.
The next grand jury should find a
true bill in the case advsrted to, or
report it among the ignored. More
than this ovsrrsaches what the law
requires, justice demands, or the peo-
pie desire.