The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-03-04
{ 5Odel Grand Jury Criminal
Practice III Aritansiiw III
Early Days

on5
Abisloty ofthe criminal pyac.
ieo Of Arkansas would not only be-
volume q bloody tragedy bot.
2onld contribute largely @ humors
oas literature. Years ago, when
W.P Grace was prosecuting a!tor
ney Of q southern circuit, he was
determined, in view Of theinex.
cpsable leniency which prevailed,
to effect d retprm by enforcing on
tie minds Of the grand jutorsthe
necessity Of punishing criminals.
On one occasion when court met, AZ
Arkansas POST The Colonel was
particularly DESTROYS Of mixing q
good record. Thegrand jury, de
ecribed as an "cncry lookin' set o.
fellers," occupied a negro cabin,
nenr the court house, "Now, gen.
tlemen," said Colonel Grace, lex
pediency demands that you should
organize and get to work just as
soon as possible" A man named
Jaconins was elected foreman.
"Now,p said the Colonel, "who will
act as clerk2 Won't your" address.
ing the most intelligent looking
member
aKain'I read nor wrile," replied
tho man.
well, won't your addressing
another
"Wouldifitw want fur one thing"
"What's thar
~ ken.read, but l KANT write
worth a cuss. Wush could, but |
kain't,"
~ am certain you will" address.
ing an old fellow.
mo, b'leve not today. 1
KANT spell nuthin' nohow."
"oh, go on an sarye, Uncle Ca
leb," said the man who could not
write worth a cuss. go on an
surve, l say. You don't hat TO be
able to spell. All you've got to do
is to read an write a little"
"well, gentlemen" remarked
the Colonel, "to expedite matters,
| will act as clerk until you can
gel some one else"
He wrote down their names aud
called the roll, requesting each
man when his name was called, 10
state whether or not he knew OF
any violations Of the law.
They all answered mo" until
Grace's patience became sore:
sWhy, gentlemen, "said he, "you
know very well that several men
have been killed in this county
since the last term Of court One
man was killed down here at II
saw.mill. Do you know anything
about that2o
"Wall," dtawlod a long, dyspep,
tic looking fellow, 81 did see a man
luther day what lowed that fell
Ter had been lail out down thar,
but l wuz sorter busy AZ the Eime
an didn't yestigate, but.I reckon
he's dead, fur afterwards | seed 'em
diggin' a hole out in tho orchard
whar his folks does all thar plant.
In"
as that all yon know about il2"
wall" wiIhanother long drawl,
"bouta | eau think Nv right now,
Mont think of moro though IL
you'd gimme time. Lemme see
Wall, l reckon, in reason they
must've killed him fur | seed
wagin with a long box in it drive
up to the house, an yes, after.
wads | seed 'em drive to tho orch.
ard. Reckon the Teller must'vc
been killed."
~ don't doubt that" replied the
Colonel. "What we want to get at
is the manner and circumstances
of the killing. Do you know by
whom and how be was killed."
"Wall, q short time bofore seed
the box in the wagin, the man
Blythe, what have every reason
to believe wus in the box, had a
'spule with a Teller named Miller"
"Did Miller kill himH"
avail, Miller he said, that the
first lime be seed him he lowed to
shoot him."
"Nliller killed him then2"
"Wall, I don't know, but Miller
isa powerful truthful Teller. New.
er heed nobody 'spute his word.
A mighty apt hand with a fuzee,
too, Miller is. Mouter not killed
him, fur it amt fur mo to say.
Blythe dIdn't owe ms nnthin'.p
VT is for you to tell it ont tho
for you are here to see the law en-