The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-05
LOCAL MATTERS.
United States Grand Jury.

The special grand iurymen Of the United
states Circuit Court. summoned % inyesti-
gate frauds alleged 10 have been committed
at the election held for congressman No
vembcr eth, were called to the book bv VI.
}. Peasants, ESD, clerk Of the court, at
II O'Clock Yesterday, and the following an
>Wered 10 their names and were duly
sworn: OF. IIine, Fairfax: William ii.
Madclla, Alexandria; .. VI. Bussard. Lou
doun: Eben +. Mason and Courtland Luz
r kcns, Fairfax: William r. ~Omors. Ed.
ward Delaney. !. +. Maltby, John +.
Casey. George Il. Wilson. Henry T. Par
ker. Benjamin Davis, James r. Holland.
Norfolk; ". III. MurdOugh. Portsmouth,;
B. +. Jackson (col0rcd). &. +. Johnston.
". I. Fitzgerald, and Jack Temple. Rich
mond; I. Il. CcrSeley, Manchester: Jacob
J. Mo,by. Culpepcr; j. Andrew Wing
held. Hanover: and &. W. Crew. Ashland.
TIRE CHARGE.
Judge Hughes requested Mr. o. +. Hine.
oi Fairfax county. 10 act D. foreman. and
charged them 20 inquire into the violations
Of United states statutes i'm respect q clcc-
tionS for congressman. lie said:
Gentlemen Of the Jury.-Your dute- rs
grand Jurors Of a court OF the United
states differ materially from those which
would belong 10 You Is jurors of a State
court. In the latter case YOU would have
10 take cogulZance Of the ordinary offences
against the peace and well-ieing Of society.
such a- breaches II the peace. thcfts and
larcelic>. AMI the ordinary c0mmOn-aw
Offences ~ grand Juror Of the United
States YOU have only 10 inquire Oi offences
Committed in violation of the laws OF the
United states. TIE are almost excu
,irely statutory t-a. g. 10 ~, they are
offences made 20 by cXprc-, acts oi Con-
gre->. 80 that il an offence ha, been com
mitted YOU will have only first TO learn the
facts, and then 10 turn TO the ach Of Con-
gre,, applicable TO the case.
These offences against the United STATES
are Of several clas,ilcations. They relate
10 the mail service, the internal-rey-
enuc service, the customs service. the eiec-
ton Of Federal officers, and probably 20
some other classes. | could not undertake
% explain these several laws in detail.
That would be a very tediou, undertaking.
and as useless n tedious. II j. also unne-
ce>sary.
The usual routine j, this: There are no
prosecutions here except Of offences r.
ported hy some officer OF the Government
who /. officially cognizant of the fact. In
general these officers take q case before
commissioner Of the Circuit Court Of the
United states. The commissioner tX-
amiue- 10 by hearing witnesses. and either
di,mis.e, 0r send, IL on. II be- sends il on
the United state, Attorney take, il in hand
' and present, il 10 the grand jury. But the
United states Attorney may take "a case
first before the grand jury ON hi, own IN
formation: and any grand Juror who
know, oi violation II an act ri C0uere~~
may bring 10 70 the attention OF the jury.
rrs-f raI D. d
offence, may Dee committed are 20 uumer-
on, and 50 unfamiliar io Grand Jurors
that. a- a matter " necessity. the United
state. Attorney attends the jury in IT, -e,-
sion, and points ont the Jaw, 81 hicl hc
. tbink, have been violated. Tie has % right
10 DO This, But Us your action Is secret
q, when YOU come % vote ON any charge, the
District Attorney will chccrlully retire
while vou are doing so.
% The grand jury l. not legal body. cm-
uoucred % act. unless at least sixteen
s iuror, are present. II j. not authorized 20
ind any Indictment" true hil '-JHles~
There be twelve votes in The affirmative.
The foreman i, empowered 20 administer
the oath 10 witnesses. The grand jury j.
mart # the court. and can neither convene
nov adjourn except by order OF the judge
and i'm open court.
r Whenever YOU wish TO adjourn. II you
will inform me Of your desire VIII
readily adjourn from hour TO hour or from
DAY 10 day.
You may now retire TO your room.
They retired.
Z TIE Isis.
The District Attorney John :. Wise
F.n y asked the Court 20 retain IN IT. Gus
" ,o5y the supplemental assessment, ISIS or
t,ined bv The District Attorney on su5poHo
J,,e,> ffc7tm from the office cf the tOmmi,'
,ioner OF the Revenue.
The.e papers. hc said. were most im
nortant. a, they showed the quit Of every
t.rufv in Mr.. Munford's office, ano
vrrr overwhelming evidence Of con
.r,r,cy I'm that Office. He should, he >aid
in due time endeayor 10 have the Sranl
iurv not only ndict each man in that Once
;ndividuallv, but collectively. He eNpectct
- nroyc that that bundle OF lists contalneC
an for0eries. committed by men IN MI
Wunford', Office. or condOned by men IL
,b9t office. He expected also 3 nd!ct th'
Commissioner and hi, deputies OF con
.nirorv to obstruct colOred men. When h'
- had first taken the bundle Of lists from Mr
Nnnford he Nlr. WISE had rather lmple'
~ that he might return them. but ne IhousH
now il would be very great piece oi con
= tidence on the part Of a prosecuting once
: ~ let them 20 right back into this Once u
: which il had been alleged the frauds Wer
: committed.
Mr.. II. \. Atkinson, Jr.. Of counsel 10
: d.fence .aid that he thought the ll,t
Z OhouId be returned 10 Mr.. Munfordsth
Comm,. .ioner OF the Revenue for tins city
< 70 whom they are Indispensable as "StS s.
> making out his report 10 the AUDITOR. IN
: Ij.fs have been in the hands OF the pi,tri1
= Attorney for several days, and Mr.. Athli
: ON understood were 10 have been returhe
= IN Mr.. Munford on FRIDAY.
: Judge Hughes said that IT was clear, ilo'
Z the statement Of the District Attorney th'
tLe District Attorney could not get a'yn
.r;,i,or, these papers. He thought VI.
- -" .Lould be held by this court, either
49, i..,,stodv az the clerk or marshal, an
~ that the Commissioner oil tne f.e'enne !
y other authorized parties could nave ao0e'
u. 10 them. -. ,,,o,;or - II
F.. MIR Atkinson said that the motion Oh u :.
: District Attorney was premature 1T III
- time. =, II, ,ha D;.tri
ies Judge Hughes replied that 'he ili'lrl 'l.l
,ns Attorney could hold the lists Tor the pre-
!. ent. and il the indictments were iouhu
. would make the order asked
~ PERSONAL.
- All OF the registrars o! the CITY, DIN
-, ING their ichi!e books, were IN attendai
adj upon the grand jury. and the ioiio"i
other gentlemen were also no''ce" III =