Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-06
A MODEL GRAND JURY.
c,,niual Practice in Arkansaw In carry
navS.

of bloody tragedy but would contribute
largely to humorous literature. Years
ago, when Colonel w. ?. Grace was
prosecuting attorney of a southern
| circuit, he was determined, in view OF
the ~inexausable leniency which pre-
vailed, 70 effect a reform by enforcing
on the minds of grand jurors the ne
cessity of Furnishing criminals. On
one occasion when court met at Ar
kansas Post. the Colonel was particu-
larly desirous of making a good record.
The grand Jury, described as an ''onery
lookin' set O. fellers," occupied q
negro cabin, near the court house.
s.Now, gentlemen" said Colonel Grace.
..expediency demands that you should
organize and Get to work Just as o
as possible" A man named Jacquins
was elected foreman. Now said the
Colonel, ''who will act as clerk? Won't
your addressing the most intelligent
looking member.
.sKain't read nor WRITE" replied the
man.
.sNell, won't you?" addressing an
other.
.NWould if it Want fur thing"
whats that:"
II ken read, but l KANT write worth
a euss. Wush l could, but | kain't."
81 am certain you WILL" addressing
an old fellow.
No, l b'leve not to-day. I kain't
| spell nuthin' nohow."
ooh. 60 on an sarve, Uncle Caleb
said the man who could not write worth
q cuss. go on an sarve, 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, s'to expedite matters, l will
act as clerk until you can get some mi
else."
He wrote down their names and
called the roll, requesting each man
when his name was called, to state
whether or not he knew of any viola
tons of the law.
They answered 'no," until Grace's
patience became sore:
"Why, 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 a saw-mill. Do you
know anything about that?'
"Wall," drawled q long, dyspeptic-
looking fellow, Ibid see a man luther
day what lowed that a teller had been
laid out down thar, but l WIZ sorter
busy at the time an didn't 'vestigate,
but I reckon he's dead, fur afterwards
I seed 'em diggin' a hole out in the
orchard whar his folks does all thar
p%lantin'."
els that all you know about it?:'
'tWall," with another long drawl,
"'bout all l can think Nv right now.
Mout think of more though, if you'd
gimme time. Lemme see. Wall, [
reckon, in reason they must've killed
him, fur l seed a wagin with a long
box in it drive up to the house, an. yes,
afterwards / seed EN- drive to the
orchard. Reckon the feller must've
been killed?"
Il 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 he was killed?"
'.Wall, q short time before I seed the
box in the wagin, the map Blythe. what
l have every reason to believe wus in
the box, had a 'spute with a teller
named Miller
''Did Miller kill him?"
s'Wall, Miller he said, that the first
time he seed him he lowed to shoot
him"
''Miller killed him, them"
"Wall, [ don't know, but Miller is a
powerful truthful Teller. Never heerd
nobody 'spute his word. A mighty apt
hand with a fuzee, too, Miller is.
Mouter not killed him, fur it amt fur
me to say. Blythe didn't w me
nuthin'.''
'It is for you to find out though, for
you are here to see the law enforced"
"Yas, that's whut the boys was ies'
tellin' me, an 1 reckon it's so. Whar
is Miller now, boys?"
..He S left the country" some one
replied.
"Wall, Colonel, I reckon he's the
man what done the KILN. In fact, I
know he is"
.'No, he amt left the country said
some Il else, ''fur I seed him day
.afore yistidy."
sWall, Colonel" continued the evas-
i've grand juror, 81 amt so certain,
sence l come to think about it. Don't
want to put the matter too strong"
"'Ihere's another case" declared the
Colonel. '.An internal scoundrel, that
ought to be hanged, killed his brother
over on White River the other day. Do
any Of you know anything about
that?n
An old brown ''jcansed' fellow,
who had said nothing, arose and re-
piled:
eyes, an I'm the man that done it,
''Mr. Foreman" said the Colonel,
''adjoufn the jury until tomorrow
morning. This is the worst crowd I
ever saw"
That night every member of the
grand jury, with the exception of the
foreman, were found engaged in a
game of poker. The following morn
ing they were marched into court and
indicted. When Colonel Grace had
completed his business he went to the
Sheriff and spoke to him concerning
his fees.
What feesp"
THE fees for convictions. Don't
you understand your business?"
at 1onit Hnnu pu%b;p~ about fooo -