The Forrest City times., 1889-10-19
THE CHARGE.

THE CHARGE.
 Judge NJ. T. Sanders convened the October term of the circuit court at this place Monday. The public was impatient to hear his charge to the grand jury, and at ? o'clock.p. m, after the general charge, Judge Sanders said:
 further charge you, especially, to make diligeut inquiry of the violence and blood- shed which occurred here at your county seat in May last and threatened a general conflict of arms. Every act of violence committed by an individual or multitude or a mob whether it has it's origin in per sonal malice, in politics or party strife or vindiet,ve. reckless disposition, demands full and impartial investigation. The tur- bulent condition of affairs in this county, which culminated in the killing of four of your prominent citizens, cannot be smoth- cred up nor ignored, but must receive q rigid and just exposition of the facts. The ppItOilaiCp ol souI uuty III tiiN icSHVS' involves the peace and welfare of your county and of the state. The question at issue is: shall peace bless and prosper your people, or violence and disorder de- stroy them? You cannot put it aside as merely political disturbance or mutual fight between violent partizans. the results I... .l. but 4,,,. must confront the responsibility which rests upon you to probe the matter to the bottom. It is a question which, in its consequences, reaches to the very founda- tons of society. of government and the security of life and liberty In times oi party conflicts, when passions are inilamed, | it is an easy thing. if intrigue or intimida- ton will not accomplish their designs, tc incite to deeds of violence. It is no, enough to deprecatc such evils and out ragcs-they must be repressed; and those who seek to control men and affairs b, force and arms must be punished. TC connive at or tolerate such methods places the aw-abding at the mercy of the law less and leads to the worst forms of an- archy.
 All good citizens look to the courts and officers of the law to preserve order pro tect life and property; and when they cease to afford protection or redress for wrongs. or become powerless to do so, then an appeal to arms will. of necessity, follow. Hence, l charge you that you owe it to the people of your county, to the investigation in order that the facts may be known and the criminal actors in that tragedy be dealt with as law and justice demand.
 But when you proceed to inquire inte acts of violence committed in times of partizan feuds and warfare. you must di- vest your minds of passion, prejudice or | bias and discharge your duty as honest and impartial jurors. Ton must bear in mind that you cannot carry democracy or republicansm or fuslonlsm into the jury
 room or take advantage of your position to knife your political enemies and shield | your allies. Do not allow favor or friend | ship to sway you, nor let fear deter or re 1 venge actaate you in presenting or omit ting to present any man who has violated
 the peace of your county and state. It k
 the pride of courts to uphold the law and
 enforce it's mandates. but their authority
 cannot he perverted or prostituted to tie service of any party or faction. il should
 come to the knowledge of this court thai l you indict any one from improper motives
 or exercise the extraordinar, powers vested
 in you solely to injure or oppress any cit 1 izeu or to subserye the ends of any faction
 or element in politics. l will promptly sci
 aside your action and discharge your body
 TuE TIMES desires to say that tn,
 charge is repletc with good sense While It is emphatic, and cannot be misunderstood, it contains nothing | rahid and shows no inclination, on the part of the court, to gain newspaper
 notoriety He has more than Won
 back many or his oldtme friends. -