Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-10
THE BIG TWELVE.
The Grand Jury Impaneled and
Charged by Judge Beckham.
The Subject of Trusts Dwelt On--Gambllng and
and DIsOrderiy HOuses-FOrt
WOrth's Plague Spot.

Judge Beckham opened the September
term of district court yesterday morning.
The term will expire by limitation on
January l.
The judge called the non-jury docket,
and several orders were entered by
number of the lawyers present.
In the afternoon the grand jury COM
posed OF the following citizens Of Tarrant
county was impaneled: T. H. Roe, Zeb
Jenkins, G. NJ. Crane, William Thomas,
l.. A. Trimble, J A Thornton, n. c.
Stowell, n. Harding, J: NJ. Benbrook,
r. B Merrill, J. B. Littlejohn and J.
7. Nichols.
Judge Beckham delivered his charge
at some length. He charged on murder
and manslaughter and the criminal
statues generally.
He dwelt with emphasis upon the i'm
pOrtance of suppressing gambling and
closing gambling houses, NOT alone the
establishment which finds its existence in
some obscure quarter Of the city, but as
well those places where wealth and
affiuence were evidenced by palatial
magnicence and luxurious surroundings.
These it were that were enticing away
from parental restraint and the whole
some influences of home the young men
of the country.
Judge Beckham especially called the
attention of the grand jury to chapter 80
of the laws of the last legislature
amending the penal code and
more fully defining a 'disorderly
house. He stated there was
popular impression that 'disorderly
house, was one alone where there oc-
Cured some unusual disturbance or dem
onstration. This was mistake. Gle eX-
planned fully what constituted this offense
and read from the statute giving the
penalty for keeping or knowingly per-
hitting such houses to be kept as well as
penalty for the owner, lessee, etc. of
theaters, etc, where liquors are sold
employing lewd women etc, which is a
fine of 5000 for each day such offense
was committed, the concluding article of
this chapter enjoining extraordinary dill
igence on sheriffs, judges etc. The judge
was in evident earnest upon this subject.
He stated that it was not q surprising
fact that a city so populous as Fort
Worth, and one that had grown with
such marvellous rapidity, should at some
time and somewhere have upon it a
plague spot. No attempt was made to
disguise this. The press and people now
demanded its removal, and the remedy
was now presented TO the hands of the
sworn officers of the law in
the form of the statute he had
just read, which if properly
enforced would at least largely suppress,
if not altogether wipe out of existence.
that portion OF the city which had for
some time been as a nightmare over the
people. The jury were also instructed to
look closely into the conduct of those to
whom had been intrusted the dearest in
terest Of the people, all public officials,
cause of high social or financial
standing. The conduct OF all should
pass through the crucible of an enlight-
ened criticism and all from the highest
to the lowest be held to strict account
ability before the law It was often the
case that the poor wretch after a night IS
debauch, was hurried before the
magistrate and fined, when those
whose influence was regarded as i'm
portant about the time of election were
passed unobserved in the violation of
law. 1t must have been evident to those
present that upon all these things the
Judge was deeply in earnest. His ami
mated face yet tempered with benignity
showed that he had at heart the good of
his city, and that in so far as he was
concerned he was determined to admin
lister the. law as he found it upon the
statute books of the state.
Many other questions of moment were
elaborated and explained, among them
that of trust which the Judge be-
lieved had reference alone to the pur-
chase or sale OF articles of commerce,
and that he should so charge. 1t had
come to pretty pass, he said, when
man could not buy pound of ice with
out paying the price fixed by an ice COM
bine or trust.
Judge Beokham said he differed with