Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-01
THE GRAND JURY.
Its Work, so Far az Ascertalned-
The Charge.

When Judge Mcconnell arrived
Monday evening he proceeded to the
office of Clerk of Court Saunders where
the grand jury were called and sworn
in as follows: Job. Il. Wells, Frank
Bartlett, N. +. Gordon, J. II. McCune,
w. II. Carver, Andrew Gerard, John
Caffrey, H. E. Stevens, Findlay CHS
holm, John Munig, Adolph Writ, Rob.
ert NJ. Calderwood, John Haughn, Nell
son Sather, w. ]. Christie and II. w.
Bennett.
Judge and Jury then repaired to the
rink, which had been arranged for the
purpose OF accommodating the court,
and Judge Mcconnell charged the jury
as follows:
In order to enable you to get to work
as soon as possible i will not occupy
your attention at any great length, but
yet sufficiently long to enable me to call
attention to some of yonr duties. In
this new country here where we are
just beginning to hold court and have no
court house, Of curse VIC have TO make
allowances for such conveniences as are
given us. For this reason you will have
q room separate from the court room,
but that need make no difference, as it
is not necessary that you should limit
your time to the time that court is in
session. Under our system Of laws no
man can be put upon trial for a crime
unless he he first indicted by the grand
iury. If we had u state where a legisla-
ture could pass upon questions, it might
be better that a less number he in The
grand jury. There are some reasons
why there should be q large body of
grand Jurors, but in my idea there are
reasons for there being a less number
than Ne have in u grand juries, and
while | am in favor of the jury system |
am in favor OF q smaller number. AS
have said before, nc person a be put
upon trial for q crime except by indlct-
ment of the grand jury. One Of the
requisites necessary in order TO put u
person upon trial, Is that first the char
ges against him be investigated by the
grand jury, and unless he be indicted
by the grand jury he can not be brought
to trial for a crime. At this point the
Judge resorted to the reading Of formal
instructions to the jury, defining their
obligations and duties. Referring to
some Of the charges which would he
brought before the jury, he added: 1t
is made my duty to call your attention
to the several matters which are likely
to be called before you, and to give you
the law in relation to the same. But as
you will have the district attorney be-
tore you, he will call your attention to
the different portions Of the statutes.
There will come before you the crime
of murder; there will come before you
the crime Of larceny. Now when you
come to this you will turn TO the penal
code, and the district attorney will give
you any ADVICE concerning the matter,
and if you should wish further you
should apply TO the court, and | will
give you the same kindly. There will
come before you also assault with
dangerous weapons; keeping houses
OF i'll fame; gambling in saloons and
violation of the liquor law. Now, while
there is a liquor law, if men violate it
they should be punished for this viola
ton. The court here read from the
statutes touching upon the law Of the
points mentioned. The selling Of liquor
on Sunday is q misdemeanor after IL
o'clock at night; to persons who are in
the habit Of becoming intoxicated to
persons already in a state o~fintoxication:
to minors. While they have a RICH. to
sell in q legal way, they have no right to
violate the law, and it is made your dut!
if any such matters be brought before
you, to indlct them. 1t is against Ne
law to gamble, and it is especially a VIC
lation ofthe law to keep gambling houses
and to disturb citizens by eeping sucl
houses, either attached to a saloon OF
without it. Also keeping houses of il
fame, and the prosecutions Of houses o.
i'll fame III some states and territories il
made difficult from the fact that the
reputation OF the house cannot be re
celved as evidence, but it is not so in ou1
territory. speak of this because it is
species Of evidence not allowed in al
states. People who violate the law ough'
not in justice ask or think otherwise
than that you would do your duty, be
cause you have taken your oath to do so
When you have business to present, yol
will be conducted into court, and tn
court will always be glad to receive an.
business you may haye.
Capt. Atkins, Of Cando, was appointed
} foreman of the jury and r. w. Bennett
clerk. \. Solberg was designated as ba
lift. and District Attorney Morga,
marched with his charge to rooms over
Moore & Dodd's meat market. wler
the Jury went into session.
Good girl waited for general house