The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-04
PLENTY OF WORK TO DO.
CONVERTING OF THE SUPERIOR
AND UNITED STATES COURTS.

Judge Adams Charge to the Superior
Court Grand Jury-Flagrant Viola
tions of the Law to be Looked into
The Sunday Law to be Enforced
Yesterdays Fundamentally United
States Courts to Get to Work
To-Day.
The December term of the superior court
convened yesterday morning A cloud OF
witnesses for the grand jury crowded the
halls and stairways and overfiowed into
the streets. Solicitor General Fraser had
his hands full during the morning session.
The court adjourned at 80 until to-day.
Judge Adams was very impressive in his
charge to the grand jury, and seemed to
feel deeply the necessity for more search
ing inquisition on the part of the grand
iuries. He began by adverting to
the importance and the duties of a
grand juror, and he stated fully the circum-
stances that suggested that the office of
at this juncture. After the usual prelimi-
nary injunctions, brief. but comprehensive,
ne addressed himself to the details
OF an elaborate charge. He referred
to the fact that it is the duty OF
the unity commissioners to provide public
buildings for convenient public use. 1t is
their duty to equip, furnish and preserve
them, and it is require ed of the grand jury
to inspect these buildings and report as 10
their accommodations, and present any
violation Of law or neglect of duty on the
part Of the officials named.
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
With reference to the court house Judge
Adams stated that the necessity for new
building is urgent, obvious and recognized
by law; that as a result of recent popular
election, the commissioners have been
authorized to issue bonds for the purpose of
erecting a new court house; that plans for
the new building are now under corsidera-
ton; and he desired the grand jury to give
the subject careful consideration, so that
the commissioners and the public may have
the benefit of their views, and that they
may infuse into the project quickeping
life and vigor if perchance it languished.
He referred to the duty OF the
grand jury to examine the public roads
and report as to their condition, and
present road commissioners who are found
to have been negligent; to examine the
offices, books and papers of the clerk of the
| court, sheriff, ordinary, county commits
| sioners, county treasurer and tax receiver,
| and advise the grand jury if it found any
property returned on the books of the last
named official below its real value to assess
| it correctly, and that that the jurys yalua-
ton will be guide for the
He directed the jury to examine the
| dockets of the various justices of the peace
| to see if they have been kept according TO
| law. and impres ed upon the jury to make
| rigid inquisition in all the departments OF
the county government and bear in mind
that public office is public trust, and that
public officers are servants of the people; to
exact from public servants the highest
measure of public service, fidelity and con-
fidence, and to secure for the people whom
they represent all the benefits that flow
from an economical, an honest and a just
administration of the public offices.
VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
With reference to penal laws, Judge
Adams called attention to the law against
carrying concealed weapons, to the evil
that the law is designed to check and to the
neces sity of the rigid forcement of this
statute. He charged tho jury fully as to
the laws against gambling. He alluded to
the fact that there was time when keno
| and faro rooms threw wide their portals,
| Haunting their hold seductions in the face
of the public; that these places are now
closed, and it is to be hoped forever, and he
was gratitied to think that the court, by q
| rigorous enforcement of the law, had con-
| Judge Adams especially impressed upon
| the grand jury the laws which are designed
to regulate the retailing Of spirituous or
| intoxicating liquors, and called attention to
the following offenses for which the laws
| provide penalties: Retailing spirituous
| liquors without license or without registra.
ton; the selling or furnishing of spirituous
| or intoxicating liquors to minors, or to q
| man who is drunk, or to an habitual drunk.
| nd M &c fha ar n nne
on election day. He dwelt at length on the
law which prohibits the opening of tipping
| houses on the Sabbath day, anc
to the terrible consequences that have
followed the violation of this law
He stated that upon the criminal docket
could be found the record of crime after
crime, murder after murder, committed ii
| are directly attributable to Sunday tipping
He appealed to the grand jury on behalf
of the community and of its best and deares
interests, to make dlligent inquiry to the
| end that the violators of this law may bt
brought to trial and punishment.
MUST ENFORCE THE LAW
| He urged further that the grand jury
| should consider the causes of the non-
enforcement of this law and suggest
remedy, if possible. as it due to iaxity
on the part of the officials, state, county
| or munlclpale ne asked, is IL due TO the IN
difference Of public sentiment on this ques-
tionn land do good citizens of this county
thoughtlessly encourage the violation Of
this lawp' He said that if upon his retir.
| ing from the bench he could fe / that he had
been instrumental in securing general re-
spect and obedience for this law, he would
carry with him through life comfort and
solace which no lapse of time or reverse Of
fortune would take away.
Judge Adams then instructor the jury a.
to various other criminal laws to which il
is made his duty to direct their attention
and especially pressed the laws against
illegal voting and bribery, and furnishing
intoxicating liquors at elections. He stated
that these laws are designed to protect tue
purity of the ballot, and in a government
like ours to corrupt the ballot is to poison
the very sources of political life
and power. In conclusion he instructed
the jury as to the necessity Of diligent in
quiry with reference to the several matters
that properly come within the scope Of theii
investigation; to the necessity of preserving
secresy with reference to all their actions
| and admonished them to Danish from their
breasts and from the grand jury room all
personal considerations that might stand il
| the way of an unflinching discharge Of theil
| dutv and an imDartial administration o