The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1888-12-06
Judge Slough's Charge to
the Grand Jury.


gleeis you wish the expression al
h s good wi an !s >iIcere wlsl
that yomr body and the c",l.t may
have peasant rvia:i,rs. aid work
together III harmony Tor the farlh'
ful az i isl administration of Tho
law against crimc within The GOOD
county of uncling
| Under oar constitute. ms and stat
ule.. the, grand jury of the county
is an irdisl ensibc auxiliary to Tic
curt II is an essential part OF ou,
| judicial system. 1t is in respect ol
| he administration of the criminal
laws of tic State within The county,
an arm of the Judicial body.
| Without the proper preliminary
&C. ion of Tho grand jury, no pcr!'e
traitor of crime (cxrept it he mere
minor ofcnse) can be brought tn
answer q. ell for The CRIME he has
committed. no matter how he;nous
it may he.
The gr,nd jury mus, first inquire
into the facts and circumstances OF
the criminal transaction. and make
formal written accusations, i'll the
manner required by law, against
tho offender. before the court c.n
put INN upon trial as to his guilt.
On the other hand, il is one oi
the highest aud most imperative
duties of the grand jury, to inter
pose as an insurmountab'e barrier
against the malicious and ground
less prosecution of he cilizen.
Upon tho iailhtul discharge by
the grand jury of its duties, there
fore. depends tho very iacett;o@ Of
the prosecution ana punishment If
crime committed within The county.
and depend also the resulting re
stra;ut from inc, ana the proter-
ton Of person, property. peac.. and
public order within The county
The grand jury is. indeed, primarily.
the main support of social order
1t is obvious, therefore, gentle
men of the grand jury, that your
officc is a most grave'y important
one. very high. very honorable
one Your appreciation oi the
grave Importance and the high
character of your Office; your inai-
viduai p.I,le your sense of personal
honor. and. above all, your scrupu
lousy consciencious esteem for the
obligations imposed upon you by he
oath winch you nave just taken
will move ,ou 10 the diligent, ful
and faithful discharge OF all your
duties as the grand jury ot th.
pre,e ent t. rm of This court
As rule. jurors are Sc 'ccted and
returned t"r service as such upon
!. ground of their moral worth,
heir in diligence. their know edge
,f public affairs -l,ecause of their i
.oad ami capable i'izen-hip So
/ is but fair 10 assume, that those
yhu have been drawn and summoned |
o serve US g'and jurors are. to a
degree. informed re
recting the official duties of the
,rand jury. Still. it has been. and
5, thought wise and salutary, tiut
he court should, ut each recurring
n succeeding term, remind, advise.
nstruc: aud mdmonish tho grand
ury for the term. IN respect OF its
fic,al duties. Hence the statute.
Section 1888. Rev. Statutes } which
expressly enjoins upon the court
he duty 10 charge the grand jury
s therein required.
Your solemn oath is as follows
Saving yourselfand iellnw .ju
ors, you, as foreman Of this
rand inquest. shall d I,senlly III
nire. and true pre>enlmeni :
,.ke. OF all such matters and /.
,nss as shall be given YOU in
liarse. or otherwise came 10
our knowledge. touching the
resent service; the counsel OF a
he state, your own and your frl I
,ws. YOU shall keep secrei, un {
,>s called on in court OF justice
} make disclosures; and YOU
hail present 40 person thro ish {
iaiice, hatred or i'll viii. nor t
lall you leave any person TN .
en,eo through. fear, favor. or af
,ciinn. or for any reward OF
ni.e thereof; but in all your {
you shall p esenl $
lie truth. the Who'll i:niii. ana
but the truth. according
, he best OF yoIr ski! and un =
erSianding' u
the same oath which a. B.. II
our foreman. hath now taken 4
efure you on his part, yon. and =
,ch Of Won. shall well and truly
,Serye am! keep Oh Your reSpee c
We paris" !
Although. as a sort Of ceremonial II
xm. your foreman has bern first 4
I'd separately sworn: precise Y the d
me oath he has taken has been Il
nlini>tered to cacl, Of the ether n
cmbers Of your body. b
Now what ia that cath? IL Is not II
ficult TO understand. IT is not
uched in ambiguous phrase. II "
not expressed in the tech' ioal II
ms of s,.ience or OF art. which are %
teav 'as eful to The foreign tongue. "
q sweet to he scholarly palate. 1t e;
set forth IN language plain and I'll
easy comprehension. Nnne of "
Or body will be justified IN saying, IN
excuse of any lapse of duty, that n'
Il did not have ia your memory In