The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-10
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
The May Term---The Grand Jury
and Boreman's Charge.
Correspondence of THE HERALD

Correspondence of THE HERALD
BEAVER, May It'll, 1885.
The stentorian-toned "Hear We, hear
ye." of Deputy U. S. Marshal Arm
strong, in the courtroom of the county
courthouse, at 10 O'Clock this morning,
announced to the waiting crowd that
the Second Judicial District Court was
about to convene. AS soon as the formal
call was concluded, Judge Foreman
directed that the list of tales
men for the Grand Jury be
read, and without more ado Mr..
E. B. Critchlow, who, it seems, now as
sumes the mantle lately discarded by
Zera Snow, proceeded to at once cate
chize each prospective juror as to their
several qualifications under the law to
sit in the body inquisitorial. All "odd-
numbered men" were simply asked
questions as to their citizenship,
etc., but all =" even numbered
individuals we're severely questioned as
to their religious belief, and especially
as to what their conduct as jurors might
be were any polygamic or '!asciy; CO.
hab." cases brought to their official
notice. The result was the acceptance
of twelve non-Mormon and three Nor
mon jnrors to fill the panel One OF the
former, named Ed. Stark, was sworn in
as foreman, and his Honor, Judge Bore
man, proceeded to deliver his charge.
Contrary to his usual practice, the
charge was this time, an epitome OF fair
ness, and contrasted strangely with the
red-hot anti-polygamic effusions that
his honor has thought fit IN former
years to impose upon suffering people.
After calling attention to their
duties IN the Grand Jury room,
duty of the prosecuting attorney, etc.,
the Judge enumerated the various
phases of crime al common law, which
would be their business to investigate
the question of polygamy;
that they must not, however, 1ndlct for
such, or, in fact, any offense, on mere
rumor or to crafty spite or malice, nor
must they let friendship interfere to
prevent Indictment, where the case
would seem TO warrant it. Perjury,
among other crimes, demanded their
special attention, especially that con-
nected with false swearing in making
entries in the United States land office.
Said that in this Territory the crimes
that generally have to be inquired into
are those of murder and everything
connected with, or leading to
it, such as murderous assaults,
robberies.. libel, rape, and all crimes
against public morals such as gambling,
the keeping of gaming houses, etc., the
judge reading the specific section OF the
Territorial statutes in relation TO the
last-named offenses, and concluded by
the jury to not let outside
clamor for or against any law influence
them in Ineir deliberations one way or
the other. The charge was remark
able, first, in its omission of all senseless
rabid anti-Mormon sentiments; and
second, in the calm, dispassionate man.
ner in which 1t was delivered, both OF
which features being eminently char
acteristic of all previous efforts of the
Charger Justice" What has induced
this extraordinary change of heart, or if
not the latter, then of manner? Echo
can answer.
Preparations for this term seem to
have been entirely neglected, no wit
nesses subpenaed either for the grand
or petit juries, and as consequence all
hands will have to wait until those in
dispensible individuals can be rounded
up"
Whether the present term will be
very Important IN Ine character Ol ltS
business remains to be seen. Whatever
may be the inclinations of the new
assistant district attorney it is hard to
say from the fact that he is as yet
comparative stranger in our midst.
1t is rumored that Judge Powers will
visit this district Immediately upon his
arrival in the Territory, and proceed to
hear some cases which Judge Foreman
is disqualified from hearing through his
former connection with the law firm
that had been retained to defend them.
The weather has been very uncertain
the last week or two, heavy rains hav-
ing been prevalent for a good portion
of the time.
Mr.. Alma Winn is the official steno-
grapher of the court this term.
XIMENEs..