Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-04-27

Is one bi 'blSlhFIdblt INTEREST," IT
rvinccs an earnest. protractcd effort to
get at the bottom facts of all sorts of
wromgdoing in all parts of the county.
Many discoveries of violations of
law were made ''only after the most
rigid examination and severe qucs-
tioning."
This experience brought out the fact
also that with sScs i'll many instances
are disposed to lie, and. still worse,
that the legal guardians of society, the
conStabulary, having eyes. see not,
and having ears. hear not except when
''Iccs" are within sight or sound.
The jury. however, does this mani
fcstly culpablc body the favor of read
ing the law for their information :"
They shall visit all places within their re
spcctive city or counties where it is suspected
that gambling tables are kept and shall give
information of all violations of the law to the
next Circuit Court for their county.
Next the jury finds that the law pro-
hbting the sale of liquors to minors
contains provision which creates
''incompctcnt witnesses" of those who
are expected to testify III behalf OF the
State. This Act is very properly de-
nounced as "a cheat and a fraud"
The jury is analytical as well as
critical. The people are Informed that
"the selling (on Sunday Of cigars, to-
bacco and soda water by druggists and
others is almost UNIVERSAL" 1t is
spoken of as zone violation of the
Sunday law"
The jury, however, did not take ac-
ton in any of these almost UNIVERSAL
instances "becauSe of the tolerance
by public sentiment on account OF Its
apparent harmlessncss.' But the jury
"calls the attention of such offenders
in this public manner to the violation
of the law, that they desist from the
practice, or render themselves liable to
the action Of future grand juricS.
All of the jury's story of its work
i, very good. 1t eviuces, as said
before, carneStncSS, care and dlScre-
ton to IA degree which eXtOrts the
JOUKNAL'S admiration. 1t would ap-
pear that at last a plan had been de
viscd and foundation laid indicating
to future grand juries" the nature
and dimensions of their sworn duties.
There is chapter i'll their book OF
proceedings, however. that is not COW
cred by the report.
Indictments were found against
three county commissioners for viola
tion of the following law:
1t shall not be lawful for any county com,
missioner, during his term of office, to accept
hold purchase, or acquire any claim on ol
against the county Of which he is IA commits
sioner, or any share or interest i'll any such
| claim, which said claim has been or is to bt
| passed upon and approved by the board O
county commissioners of which he is a mem
! ber
Ifany county commissioner shall violate
any of the provisions of the two preceding
sections, he shall be liable to indictment, and
upon conviction, shall forfeit his office, ant
| shall also forfeit his share in the agreement
| contract or claim as aforesaid as the cas-,
may be.
The law is good one. 1t is above
criticism.
As such III some minds the question
might hold-why was it not admins
tered during the preceding administra
tions but in that there is no peril
nency. Better ask-why the consta
bles were not held to stricter account
or the ''druggists and others ?"
But it is proper to inquire Why the
commissioners were denied the favor
so magnanimously accorded the ICON
stables. druggists and others - Why
were the commissioners left out of the
warning to transgressors 10 "hee the
wrath to come ?" In palmer terms
when the jury ascertained that the
I commissioners had violated law, why
did il not "call the attention of sucf
offenders in this public manner" az
they did with druggists and others,
and admonish them to ''desist from the
practice, or render themselves liable tC
the action of future grand juries ?"
There is an answer to these questions
which the public is entitled to hear, fol
this is a case also of alleged abuse tol
Grated "by public sentiment on ac
count of its apparent harmlesslness,
If the grand jury, aware of its higl
| functions as the fortress of the citizer
against any sort of persecution, per
mitted in this instance its great power
to be employed by any outside force ol
influence, the people ought to know
the nature of that force, the character
of that influence and the standing o.
the men who WELD them.
1t may be answered that all this vii
be developed in the trial.
Perhaps no; most likely not. In
deed. there is ground for Suspectine
that If WAS no part Of the scheme fOl
the Indictment to reach trial. 1t look.
like pot to cloud the reputation o
| tha commissioners for "A partiSan ad