The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-11-13
The Opening Yesterday-Judge
Ryland's Charge to the
Grand Jury.
The Liquor Law and Sabbath
Breakers to be Especially
Looked After.
The Jury Directed to Strike
High-Yesterday's Proceed
inGs In Full.

Judge Rylaud, OF the criminal court, ar
rived in the city yesterday and was escorted
by the sheriff to the new court rooms in
the Boutwell, Meyers block, on East Third
street, which have been newly and hand
somely fitted up for the special use o: the
criminal and circuit courts, and prese Mt an
elegant and substantial appearance.
After brief survey of the premises. with
which he expressed himself we'll pleased,
the judge took lis seat and court was called
to order.
Sheriff NJ. S. Conner and Deputies AL
Conner, Robert Ramsey and Fred Conner
being duly sworn, the roll of grand jurors
was called, the following answering to their
names Henry Lower, J. E. Scott. NJ NJ
Hansbrough, A J. Hall, Jno. s. Woods,
w. Y. Evans, W. F. Hutchinson, Samuel
Beiler and John McNutt.
Henry Lower presented certificate of
illness and was excused, ]. NJ. Logan being
subpenaed TO serve in his place.
The Judge designated VIM. T. Hutchin-
son as foreman of the jury, and after the
the clerk had sworn them in proceeded to
deliver them his charge in substance as fol-
lows
Gentlemen of the grand jury, the oath
which you have just taken imposes upon
you solemn duty, and one which I trust
you will fully appreciate in all the fullness
of its import and without fear or favor, un-
biased by friendship, family, business or
political ties, spite or revenge, discharge to
the utmost OF your ability without regard
to consequences.
Those who commit felonies and viola
tions of the penal laws can only be punish
ed through the grand juries.
II is unfortunate that in every city and
county there are those who disregard the
law, but ii is more unfortunate
that there are those who
should feel it incumbent
upon them to protect instead of prosecute
such offenders. And unless the grand
juries free them>elves from every feeling of
prejudice, fear or favor and impartially
present all attractions of law they have
reason to believe can be successfully proven,
these parties 60 unwhipped of justice. 1t
is your duty to disregard all standing,
wealth, position or influence belonging to
violators. and consider the one question, is
the evidence sufficient to warrant the trial?
1t is not always the guilty who are accused,
and while it is your duty to bring to trial
the guilty, it is as much your duty to
shield the innocent.
You will also keep secret everything
which may transpire in the course of your
investigation. This is necessary for various
reasons. Should any be unjustly accused
the matter is thus locked in your own
hearts, and does not 60 forth to injure
them. Again it is necessary in order to
protect those who may testify before you
and above all ii aids the officers in appre-
hen,ling those who may be guilty. Your
foreman who administers the oath to wit
nesses is also by law required to bind them
to secrecy, to which fact desire especially
to call bis attention.
To you is committed the whole body of
the criminal law, and it is expected of you
that you will impartially present any in
fractions of its code in any and every part.
1t is not for you to judge whether the law
affected be wise or unwise, it is not for you
to be the Judges of the law, that power be-
longs to the legislature neither is it for
you to regard or enquire into the fact
as to whether this statute or that is pOpu-
lar or unpopular, wise or unwise, just or
unjust 1t is sufficient for you to know, or
have reason to believe it has been violated,
to make it your duty to return present
ment. If our laws are to be respected and
honored they must be enforced. If
they be unjust or partial the
speediest wav to make it apparent is to en-.
force them. You are not to be governed
by popular opinion in your findings. Ii
is no part of your duty to say this or that
law is onerous. Under your oath you must
present every infraction of any clause of
the law which shall come to your knOwl-
edge.
1t is further your duty to start investiga-
tion among yourselves. and should any OF
you know of any infractions, fro m person
al knowledge, you should have it inquired
into. You have the authority of the state
at your back to inquire into any aud all
matters, and it is your duty to use every
means in your power to see that infringe
ments are prosecuted, no matter who the
offender may be
1t is my duty to call your attention TO
certain statutes in particular, among which
are section ii, article IA, which requires
grand juries to investigate into the acts of
public officials having charge OF the public
funds.
1t often happens that derelic-
tions of these officials are winSed at
because of personal friendships or because
they happen to have been selected by this
or that political party. this is not right.
uUiiC OLuCciS diC pUoiiS SCI sHheos NV AAio'
tiers, and If we would have them good and
efficient we must watch them and let them
know they are watched. Since the last
term of court there has been some changes
in the statutes, especially as regards the
traffic ia Intoxicating liquors, and under
stand that in this county, as well as others,
there has been great disregard of this
law especially of that part relating to Sun
day, which section is not new, but An old
law in a new place. 1t is your duty to
: thoroughly investigate this matter, and in
doing so you should not con6ne your in
vestigations to the saloon man and liquor
dealer, bat examine into every infraction,
whether by the saloon keeper, the mer-
chant, the resteaursteur, the druggist or
any other tradesman. The frequent or
general infraction of any law is evidence,
of disease, restlessness. inharmony in the
hodv politic and II becomes doubly vour