The Evening critic., 1882-03-06
CRIMINAL COURT.
The March Term Opcned-Thc Jurors
for the Tcrm-Judge Wylie's Charge
10 the Grand Jury.

The March term of the Criminal Court
opened to-day, with Justice wylie on the
bench, and he will preside for the ensuing
year. 1t having come his turn to take this
court. II has been more than two years since
he sat on tho Criminal Bench, the term having
been filled by Justices Hagner and Cox. The
Unprecedented and remarkable status Of this
court now attracts notice among tho lawyers.
There are now three terms Of tho court open
the June, December and March terms; the
first on account Of the exceptions in the Gut
teau case not being signed and settled; the sec
ond is the one Just past In which there are a
number OF cases OF motions for q new trial
pending, and the March term, which began
today.
Immediately after the court convened His
Honor directed the names OF the Grand Jurors
TO be called, which was DONE and they took
their seats In the box without first being
sworn, as has always heretofore been the Gus
tom. Judge Wylie interrogated the Iurymon
as 10 their age and citizenship.
District Attorney Corkhill asked that tho
practice be followed, and each man sworn upon
his Toir dire 10 answer such questions as might
be propounded by the Court.
His Honor decided that IL was not necessary,
and all that was required was to be satisfied
of the competency OF the Jurors to act. He
declined TO have them sworn.
The following were
Excused from service
on the Grand Jury: Messrs. Daniel Harkness
Richard Pollard, james V. Collins and H. W.
Blunt.
on the petit iury-M -Messrs. II. b. Tenney, A.
Naiior, jr, II. @. windship, J: g. Bowen,
Francis M. Connor, George Kaiser, fu, Elias i 1.
Benz. d. Earnshaw, p. A. Caywood and Thomas
II. Langley.
by the selection of the following talesmen
Robert Johnson, Robert Beall and John j.
Beall.
mi n M at Ia ~ mn
Honor" interrupted the District Attorney,
"has not asked any Of the jurors IL they have
ever been convicted of any crime"
"No," he answered, 81 do not think II neces.
sary. presume that they have not"
Mr.. Mitchell was then sworn, and after him
| the other jurors.
Charge 10 the Grand Jury.
The Court then charged them as to Their
| duties, calling particular attention to the Of
| fenses of duelliDg and libel in the District
| He stated that there was also n limitation to
| their powers. While they could present Of
| fepses within their own knowledge, they had
| no right to enter into investigations involving
| expense and the bringing here of witnesses
| unless the matter was brought to their atten
| tion in the regular way. They would have
| plenty of work to do, as he understood there
| was considerable awaiting their attention
He made reference to the old Maryland statute
| that
Forbid the Grand Jury Finding an
Indictment
| without the consent OF the court, and said tina
1t was in force in this District. He furthe
said that the Grand Jury had no right TO fint
an indictment on suspicion founded by vagu,
testimony. They should be satisfied upon th
| evidence submitted to them that the part,
was guilty before presenting them for trial
not on the grnund that there was strong sus
picion of their guilt. They should not brin
such indictments in for petit Jury +
try and so cloud the names of the pei
sons accused with unjust suspicion
II upon investigation they wer
not satisfied Of the sufIiciency Of the evidence
the Grand Jury should so report and If add
tional proof was requisite, and could be had
| II should be furnished them. But there wa
too much at stake, and the character of privat
citizens must be respected, and not assaile
without satisfactory proof Of wrong-doing bt
ing established. The proceedings of the Gran
Jury were secret, and 1t was therefore tn
more necessary why the Jurors should kee
inviolate their oaths, and be careful In thei
Investigations.
The Grand Jurors then retired to thei
rooms, and the
Impanneling of the Petit Jury
was proceeded with. Counting those excuse
| and returned ''not found" 1t was ascertaine
that nine good and true men had been secure
for service, and the Marshal was ordered
| bring in seventeen talesmen to fill vacancie