Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-04-26
NO. 46.

! When you come to investigate these
d charges it is your duty to hear only legal
r and competent evidence; that is, evil
/. dence which gives you proof of the real
! facts with which the party is charged;
and il, after hearing that evidence-and
you have the right and power to hear
the defendants evidence as well, If you
see fit, although you are not bound to
unless you 80 desire-after examining
and weighing it, you come to the con.
clusion that upon the evidence which
has been presented to you there is reas-
onable and probable cause for the find-
ing of a true bill, and you think it reas-
enable and probable that petit jury
would convict upon the evidence which
you have heard then it would be your
duty to find true bill. If, on the 9th.
or hand you find that charge is being
pressed on the ground of i'll will, or hard
feeling, or because man wants to get
even with neighbor in some way, then
1T is your duty to refuse to receive it. It
Is for you to go wholly upon the evil
dence which may be presented to you
without favor and without fear of any
kind.
A further duty, gentlemen, which the
law imposes upon you-and a very who'll
some duty, and one which don't think
Is attended to with the strictness it
ought to be--is an examination into the
conduct OF your county officers, an ex.
animation of all books of account and
OF the way and manner in which your
money is being spent. / have frequent-
~ been told in going around the circuit
that there is no use in having grand
jury; that there have been no crimes
committed and that there is nothing to
investigate. There ought to be grand
jury at every term of court. An officer
who is performing his duty negligently
Will stir himself up little If he thinks
a grand jury is going to investigate him.
You are not bound, when you 90 into
an officers room and ask HIM to look at
his books, to take what he says. Ifhe
tells you, II have five thousand, or ten
thousand dollars in the bank, and have
spent this much money for this purpose
and so on" you are not bound to take
his word for it, but you have a right to
investigate for yourselves and If, for
any cause, you think the investigation
ought to go on further, you have a right
10 employ an accountant and examine
their books. If the grand jury would
90 their duty in this respect there would
be good deal less trouble than we have
had in regard to some officials in this
territory.
1 hardly think it is necessary for me
to say anything further to you. The
district attorney will do all in his power
for you. If you should desire any fur
ther instruction from me on any point
l Will be prepared to give them at any
time. will let you go out now and at
tend to your work and get through as
soon as possible.
REPORT OF GRAND JURY.
To the Hon. John L. Logan, Judge:
We, your grand jury, empaneled at
this April term OF court, would respect
fully report as follows:
That We have examined into two cases
brought before us, and found no true
bill.
The books of the auditor and treasur-
er are properly kept, and the accounts
and cash on hand found correct. We
have also examined the county build
Ings and surroundings and find them
adapted for the purposes intended.
There being no further business we re-
spectfully ask to be discharged.
A. FRIEDENRICH, Foreman.
ED. LIsToN, Secy.