The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-09-05
UNLAWFUL GRAND JURY.

In their zeal and determination Il
crush out the Mormons in Idaho, tn
Federal official crowd have severa
times over-reached them selves. Latel,
they have had matters their own way
for they have combined and stood il
together. and having complete contro
of the government machinery, they
could do as they pleased for the time
being. The outrages they have perpe
trated are numerous, and the other;
that they contemplate are also many
and wicked. Morgan, the late CHIEF
Justice of the Territory, was one of the
chief conspirators, and his position al
the head of the Judicial bench, gave him
the opportunity to carry out many OF
the schemes which he had helped to de-
wise. As so often happens when men
c1nspire together to carry a point
in defiance of the law, the Idaho ring
frequently defeats itself in that 1t goes
too far, and cannot cover its trail. An
instance of this character has been re-
ported to US from our neighbor Ter
ritory The Grand Jury impaneled for
the May term of Judge Morgan's
Court was selected and arranged for the
occasion, the special fitness OF each
member being taken into account, the
work in hand being the indictment of
Mormons. 1t was that grand jury
which gave in so many presentments
against Mormons for unlawful cehabi-
tation; little or no testimony was re-
quired by the inquisltors, rumOr being
sufficient upon which to base an In
dictment. In making up the panel, as
stated, the bitterest nti.Mormons in
the district,were chosen, and it so hap
pened that one member, selected be-
cause of his pronounced hatred of the
Saints, was an alien. never having been
naturalized. So anxious was he, how
ever, to get on the jury and thus in
position where he could give effective
play to his vindictiveness, that hes wore
he was a citizen of the United States
and qualified to serve as a grand juror.
The attention of Judge Morgan
was called to the fact that
the juror was an alien and
could not therefore act as juror; and
a motion made to quash an indictment
on the ground that the Jury could not
be legal that was composed in part of
aliens. His Honor denied the motion,
though proof that the juror was not a
citizen was offered. 4 self-respecting
judge, who was bent on the enforce
ment of the law, would not have hest. |
tated a moment as to what was his |
duty in the premises; he would have re-
jected the juror and taken the necessary
steps for Ills punishment. But Morgan
was one of the gang that was running
in their own way, and he didn't !
propose that so insignificant a matter
as an illegal Grand Jury should inter-
fere with the operations of the con-.
spirators. The result will probably be |
that the work of the May Grand ] ury will
largely come to naught, as much of it |
should do. Morgan has been uncere-
moniously kicked out, and there is a
fair prospect that the Federal bench in
The Territory will soon be changed
throughout, in which event the crooked
and irregular doings of the present ring
,an be looked into.
Meantime, an attempt has been made
% bring the alien juror to Justice, but
success as yet. Learning of the
proceedings to be taken against him
1e skipped" and the officers have
'een unable to place their hands upon
him. The belief is that he has left the
Territory, in which event Idaho is the
gamer.
When all the crookedness and rascal
ty of the Federal officials in the Terri
cries shall be unearthed, if that shall
.ver be done, it will furnish many inter
sting chapters of organized rottenness
md official corruption.