The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-18
CHARGE To THE GRAND JURY.

Gentlemen You have been In session during q
period OF great public excitement IL IL currently
reported that under this excitement grave viola.
tons OF the law have been committed and have
called you into court TO give YOU some further ia.
sructions in reference TO your duty In this emery
eney' Early in the session OF the court called
your attention to the fact that certain citi-
zens OF the county had received threaten
ing letters ordering them 10 leave the State
aud told you that the sending Of such letters was
gross violation of the law, rendered doubly
heinOus ut this particular time by reason OF tho
excited state OF public feeling. and that II was your
duty TO investigate the matter and use every
means possible 10 discover the guilty parties TO the
end that they might be indicted and punished.
since then II has been reported that the sending
oithese letters was IN iurthcrancc OF q conspiracy
TO drive those receiving them from the state and
that this can be proved There Is n statute agains
such conspiracics, 10 which | call your attention
and undcr which the conspiraton may I've severely
punished by imprisonment In the penitentiary
This Is grave pnensr and should 10 Investigated
thoroughly. There Is no such punishment as OK.
patriation known 70 the laws OF this country. and
even II there were It's execution could not safely be
entrusted either 10 a set OF midnight conspiraior
or 10 lot OF armed and excited citizens.
equally follows from this that the parties WHO
ordered certain negro citizens OF this county %
leave the state were each OF them guilty OF VIC.
lation of the law. To drive a citizen from the
state by threats or the display Of armed force IL a
violation not only Of the statutes which shall
read To you but is violation Of the spirit Of The
constitution itself The constitution guar.
antccs the liberty. and personal security OF
Tue fltlkcn ana the right To trial by iury
but Of what avail or bencht Is this right Il n gang
OF armed men may seize you ut daylight aud by
fOrcc or threats drive you at once from the State
II !, no Justification 10 lay that these men are bad
or that they had made threats II they have com.
mitcd any crime let them be indicted and tried by
court, the only tribunal which has the right 10
determine their guilt II they had made thrcat,
they can he put under bond 20 keep the peace
say further, that II In the cOune Of your
Investigations you find evidence that threats
are being made 10 hurt or inIuc my person. II you
viii report the name Of the offender aud witnesses
The court Will take step 10 have him put under
bond 70 keep the peace. The constitution guamn-
tees the right Of citizens a. assemble and bear arms
for their common defense but when THY under.
take 10 40 further and 10 drive certain parties from
the state, and 10 prevent their returning they have
gone further than the law allows, and become vio-
lAion Of the law.
Gentlemen, you have an important duty TO pcr
form. and whatever the excitement of your sur
roundings. you should rise superior 10 II aud do
your dnty ia IL iull measure and In calm. dis.
passi )nnto manner bchtting the action Of DELHI
erativo body. Such occurrences "a thoso OF the
last few days have tendency 10 affect the good
nnmo OF your county and state, but you may 10
sure that the hnal Judgment Of the public will 10
based, not on the deeds Of number Of citi-
zcns moved by fear and excitement but
IL will be based upon the action
Of the grant jury, and the OH.
eials whose duty II Is TO preserve the peace and
gross violations OF the law unnotiocd. nnd take no
steps 10 punish the offenders the public condemna-
ton viii be swift and sure, and what will add
force 10 its judgment Is that Il will b. mcritcd. II
any member OF the grand jury has been implicated
in any violation Of the law. II will he the duty Of
the foreman 20 report the fact W the court Ia order
that lac may he discharged. The prosecuting AT.
torncy viii give you nny further information that
you may need.
The court also read to the jury several
statutes bearing ON the question.