The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-23
District Court.

District Court convened on Mon.
dav last, Judge Blackmau presiding.
The Grand Jury, composed of the fol.
lowing members, was empaneled, Wig:
N. l.. McGinnis, Foreman; r. O. But
Ter, }. W. Savage, Jr., S. L. Con
merry, Walter Bailey, James Akin
son, I. NJ. Hooter, G. C. NIarler, A.
Y. Brister, j. Il. Walker, w. II.
Lyle, L. Il. Brown, Lido Ball, Amos
Terrell, l.. Dyer and Juo. G. Rogers.
The Grand Jury having been EN-
paneed and sworn, Judge Blackman
proceeded to deliver his charge. As
1t was extemporaneous we cannot give
it in full as we much desire. Speak
ing OF the causes of crime, the Judge
said IN most instances crime was the
result of the want Of proper moral
training and education by parents aud
those in charge of the youth Of the
land. The parental authority was
more often to blame than the youth
who INDUCES in open misaemeanors
and disobedience, and society was in,
tlicted with class of evil doors by
wicked, depraved and negligent pa
rents not knowing, Or wilfully and
crlminally neglecting their duty to
their children. The depravity Of hui.
man nature needs wholesome checks,
and besides the moral, social and re-
ligioas influences that are exercised in
every we'll regulated and civilized So
clety, there must be some authority
armed with power to preserve order,
protect life, liberty and property and
punish crime. While the moral ell
ovation and education Of the great mass
of the people is a social aud quasi
political question with which courts of
justice cannot deal, there are equally
great and important duties devoIviny
on all those who constitute courts of
justice to see that the law is rigidIy
enforced, aud by just punishments de-
ter the wicked, thoughtless and de-
PRAYED from committing deeds that are
injurious to individuals and destructive
to the good order and peace of society.
The one great and paramount cause
Of reckless crimes in this Parish is the
non-enforcement of the laws. Jurors
who have no regard for their oaths,
through friendship and other motives
that are less pure, often fail to dis.
charge their duties, turn loose on soci-
ETY. guilty people to the disgust of the
law abiding element Of the commu-
nifty, aud to the great injury to the So
ciety in which they live. Such fail
nres to carry out the law faithfully
and honestly only invites crime, brings
into disrepute the Court, and causes
the law to be violated with a CON
temptuous indifference that is shocking
to behold. There has been a inst
complaint that the law is not observed
with that respect that it should be,
and that human life is cheaper by far
than it should be in your parish.
There is no just reason for this, and
the juror who fails under his oath to
do his whole duty, does great injury
to the State and community in which
he lives. There is no necessity for
laNlessness of any kind, and no crime
however great or small should be con,
doned or passed over.
Speaking of the disturbances which
recently occurred at the Camp Meet
ing III the Spring Greek neighborhood,
the Judge said that these shonld be
rigidly investigated. The thoughtless,
the wicked and lawless man or boy
thst would 60 to a place of religious
worship, where mothers, wives and
daughters were in attendance, aud VIC
late all the laws of decency and deco
rum, using vulgar and obscene Ian
gnage, and otherwise disturbing a re-
ligious assembly, deserves to lie pm
lshed, and the people of that commu-
nifty had called for protection, aud it
was our duty to give it to them by
to the bar of public justice
all the offenders.
The charge against concealed wea-
pons, and other offences, was pointed
and we'll made. We have heard the
Judges charge commented on by sew
eral as the ablest and best that lie has
delivered for some tune. He has done
ais duty, and it remains to be seen if
he jurors will do theirs.
Simchat TOrah Ball,