The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-01-27
rng GRAND jury System

cused hGn urbL Dhu pitlHih"tJ NNN''''
beforo a mseittrate. Knowing what wo DO OF
the grand jury system, this bin struck Us as an
admirable one The idea is good, founded
ia strict Justice and fairness 70 every citizen
Without stopping to consider what grand
lures may be in other states, We know tha'
here in Texas it is regular star chamber
court. 1t is enshrouded in mystery and
secrecy in al its proceedings, and the CITIZEN
doe, not know what it does. Ito mem
hers are sworn to secrecy ana
dare not reveal what takes place 10 its aes'
sions under penalty of perjury 30 1t Is
with the witnesses summoned before II 70
testify. The foreman or any member OF inc
inousst can have summoned whom he
nlea,es and can PROFOUND any question con
corning any persons he may see proper ana
tr,o hills can be returned on the Himsiest
to..imoov. Any man may notify the grand
iurv that ho desires 10 give testimony before
It. and may haze summoned as witnesses
on,hodv whsmsoever, and on this testimony
HI, ,rav ba found, returned and an arrest
made. II can DO made an engine OF oppres'
sion, outrage and wrong BY tbs VICIOUS ana
,u.,ic;o,s and its members never
know that they are leading themselves
for such instruments. The accused never
knows that his name has been before the
grand jury until after Indictment Is iouno
and q csuiss for his arrest has been issued
and served. lie never has an opportunity TO
in,,oauca a witness or to offer evidence IN his
own bobalf, and consequently only one side,
If # be 3 side at all, is heard, and therefore
tho nroceedipgs, in SO lar as the premises are
concerned. are unfair and unjust mere
may be suspicion against man, or color Oh
suso,eisn, and the.grand jury, hearing only
that which is against the suapicioned party
ends a bin; whereas, if they had heard all
the fscts III the case, the
concentration of facts on both
sides and the statements of witnesses IN de-
Tense as vail rs sgsiuai, they would never
have found an indictment. "a" may De 'he
bitter incorporating. unserupulous enemy
of "B." TO wzeak vengeance on 70" he
NAV 90 before the grand jury and make q
charge against him, telling tale IN so plaus-
lille a manner, without actually committing a
perjury. keeping within the bounds and re
ouirments of the law on this point, and he
may bling up witnesses, some OF them ana
perhaps all, sincere in their statements VINO
may give such eorroboration to CAS- isle
that true bill i; found and "B" is arrested
on a heinous charge Heis forcodto give bond;
it may be difficult for him TO do SO. he
NAV have to assume obligations TO make MS
bond that arc hardship upon him. Ho is
nut 10 the expense Of employing counsel 10
represent him in the court; he must 1859
time in attendance upon the court
mus. secure evidence possibly sn expense to
him, to show his innocence; be rests under
q cloud: must liDger under tho shadow OF
infamv. and endure the distress Of mind
naturally following, an feel that his family
too, is sharing bis distress. When the case
comes up for hearing he establishes his in
nocence of tho charge beyond the bubble
Of doubt. but still he has been harnssed,
has been put to, an outlay of money
ard las keenly felt that his
neiehbors and ecquaiutances have
looked at him sskanco, and
have debated, ia doubt, the question OF the
charge against him. In after years, when
he Is dead, and the memory Of the case and
all the facts have faded from the minds OF
those living, the record Of the case is found
in the archives ofthe cour. and his children
or grandchildren gro twi.ted with the fact
that their father or grandfather was once in-
dicled for stealing, or embozzlement, or for
gerry, or some other disgrscefal felony, aud
although no wss acquitted, It might have
been by the law delays, the sArewdneso NJ
ability Of lawyers, or the powerful influence
of money. Its fearful thing in this land
of freedom Of ours for the citizen
TO be jerlEed up and srraigned in
the courts to undergo the ordeal of trial for
his life or his liberty, and such a painful
reauiremeni should never be made, except
upon the :strougeat and plhiness grounds Of
guilt. Let everything DO done openly and
above board in this FREQ land Of our5, for that
which will not stand the test Of the Sunlight
OF truth and fair investigation is not worthy
of consideration. II party Is suspicioned
or accused Of crime, let afi9syII DO made be-
fore magistrate and the party brought up
BY due PROCESS Of law, or 3 warrant Of srrest
70 answer. 10 knows then tho accusation
that is made asains. him; be knows the evi
dsncs ihsl will be sdddcei against him; he
knows how % meet Il, By bringing up his
witnesses and.sst forth his side of the case.
An the e-aienoe is taken down in black
and white, ani Il is laid before the grand
Jury when II meets, to inquire in and for The
body Of the county, and hearing the facts on
both sides, it can return bin or not, IS in
It's wisdom and Judgment il may deem
proper. The accused is not taken at dis
advantage then; msliciOusness and vicious-
noss cannot then vent lie spleen in false &C
cushions. There Is not lawyer prncticiDg