Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-06-21
The Grand Jury System.

In medieval history nothing stands ul.t vitn more ghastiy horror than the Holy Acquisition, secret tribunal in- vested with jurisdiction over life and property.
 At the present day the grand jury is a relic of :he harbarous ages.
 In many countries the grand jury system has been entirely abolished, as inconsistent with the inalienable right of all men 70 be confronted with their accusers and to have an open trial. a principle so thoroughly iuterwoven with all free institutions as to need no de- fence.
 Under the new institution grown up at Washington in modern times, called tha Department of Justice, the greatest extension of the Holy Inquisihon is to be found, and the records of this de- partment will DO doubt some day be spread to the light for the amazement of the American people.
 Away out here in Arizona, on the con- fines of civilization, We have had some experience of the workings of the De pertinent of Justice.
 In former years q bRckwoodsman with his ax was considered the type of ad- yancing civilization, and the man who cleared the forest and planted corn was esteemed a foreIunner of law, religion and learning; but now feller of timber is considered by the magnstes of the Department of Justice as a thiet-In- dicted by the grand jury, arraigned be- fore the court and persecuted as crimi- nal. In fact, it has come to snch a pass in Arizona that the oldest inhabitRnt is afraid to cut a walking stick on the pub lie domain under penalty of being ln- dicted for stealing timber.
 In county matters the grand jury IS often made the engine of persecution, and the secresy of its proceedings gives great opportunities to stab in the dark. The accused can have neither counsel nor witness in his behalf and the first iudicial knowledge he receives IS a visit from the sheriff for the purpose O; mak- ing an arrest; when 1t IS either bal or jail. without any warning.
 In a recent case the grand jury was kept in session for over a week for the pnrpose of entrapping an unwilling wit ness and then brought in an indictment to oratify the spite of some of the mem bers, and not for the ends of justice.
 The special grand jury just adjourned attracts considerable attention for the anomalous proceedings and the senss- tiop resulting from the indictment of nearly all the city and county officials men of formerly good repute m the community.
 While if IS not proper to discuss cases nendIng before the tribunals in the press. it is the right and duty of the citizen and the press to investigate the administration of the law, and If these be abused to suggest remedy.
 Ar investigation of the grand jury system will undoubtedly show system -epuguaut to all modern ideas of Iuris- prudence on account of the secresy ot its deliberations and ex parte tesn- mony.
 No mans character should be asssil- ed, and his name published to the world as a criminal without giving him a chance to be heard.
 1t is a shame upon fair play and the grand jury system is passing away m i all enlightened states under the blaze of intelligence ana even nhnueu IusuCe'
 There are other legal means Tar less expensive and more fsIr for the fighting of all wrongs.
 Very true, an indictment is not con- vlction: but it cannot be denied that Il is n stain. No indictment can be found until twelve members of the grand jury have voted in the affirmative and the indictment SD found becomes a record ol the court, and is published in the news papers
 Another great evil of the grand jury system is that 1t brings an unnecssar,