The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-30
Judges Charge to the Walla
Walla Grand Jury.
DUTY TO INDlcr LYNcHERs.
The Last of the Rose Gang Of Murder
ers Out of Jail.
Centralia Girl Takes Poison the Nav
After Her Wedding = Arrest OF an
Alleged Methodist Clergyman While
Smuggling Opium.


The first grand jury ever summoned by
county authorities of the state of Wash
ington was convened here today. The
following is personnel of the jury: w.
7. Reescr, A. s. Legrow, John Thonney,
W. g. Cullen. j. c. Swasey, c. NJ. Pente-
cost, Pat Dickens. William Arthurs, A. G.
Lloyd, Robert kinsman, Frank Dement,,
E. II. Nixon, A. II. Johnson, JEFF Jen-
nings, j. S. Barrett and A. P. Pearson.
After the jury was sworn. Judge Upton
read the following charge. in substance:
This is the first time in its history that grand
jury has been summoned in this county. had
hoped that q community so peaceable, intelii-
gent and lsw-abiding would never need the
services OF such body. The time seems to
have come when only the action of . deter
mined, active, fearless grand jury viii avoid the
necessity OF large, less desirable and more ex-
pensiye organization, the committee of safety,
that last resort Of civilized community against
organized lawlessness 1t is generally reported
and believed upon the streets that last
part of the army OF the United States,
forcibly took from the county Jail and
lawful custody Of the civil authorities, an un-
armed, defenseless man, q prisoner awaiting
trial; . person who had surrendered to the body
polite all natural and private means Of self-de-
tense, upon the solemn assurance of the laws
and constitution of the state and Of the United
States that all the power OF the state. and ii
Necessary the whole army of the United States.
would be used, and the last cent in the treas
ury would be spent to protect his person until
he had . fair. open trial by q jury of his peers
Defenseless in this situation he is said to have
been taken out under the very walls OF this tenn
pie of justice, before the eyes of the statue of
the goddess of justice which guards the en-
trance to this building, and shot to death in
cold blood by men especially organized TO up
hold the laws.
This matter you have been summoned to in
vestigate. If it occurred . crime was conn
mitted In comparison with which all the
crimes that have heretofore occurred in this
country since the organization sink into insig-
niiicancc. 1t becomes your solemn duty to spare
neither time, labor nor expense in bringing the
guilty parties to justice. II is nothing to point
out that the victim was gambler, accused of
crime. The saint and sinner, the rich and poor,
the soldier and civilian, the vilest criminal, the
meanest vagrant. are fully entitled to the pro-
lection of the law as the priest at the altar.
When protection is denied. the chief support of
our liberties is undermined. The highest duty
which citizens owe the state 10 to do all in their
power to see that the law is fully and Impair
tally administered, and the greatest misfortune
that can befsll . community 10 to be forced to
lose faith in the integrity and capacity OF those
charged with the execution Of the laws. Then
It Is that yigiiepce SemzAitteee eeen 70 have ex-
cuse f6r existing. That the people Of this coun-
try are not In that melancholy plight is shown
by the patience, hope and confdeuce with which
they await your action. Though overwhelmed
and outraged by the wanton afffont that has
been put upon them and the laws, they have
restrained their just impulse, which must have
been to rise in their might and unavoidably
punish the innocent with the guilty. Await
ing your action with patience reflects credit
upon the American people. Let them not look
in vain. You stand today az the particular
representatives Of the law. Upon you depends
whether the peoples confidence in the law
and the courts shall be deemed justi-
fed or misplaced. Law and order or
anarchy and violence must rule this commun-
ity. In this unfortunate affair no disgrace at
taches to this county. Letnot your indifference.
timicity or incapacity give the fair name of
Walla Walla the first stigma The state, the
court, the law expect nothing less than that you
will sift the matter to the bottom and present
indictments against those who committed this
outrage. You should examine every man able
TO afford any light and intiiet any man found
swearing falsely. That those indicted will
have = fair, impartial trial, the innocent be
acquitted, the guilty be punished, the faith of
the state of Washington stands pledged. Noman
you place in the custody OF the law will be MUIR
dered in jail or rescued by confederates- 1t is
within your province to inquire into the con-
duet of the city, county or army officers con-
nected with this affair, and bear in mind that
the grand jury, and not the court, Is to deter
mine the guilt or innocence of the men. As .
general rule, grand juries are expected to hear
only one side of case. and il Is manifest should
hesitate long before setting the seal of condem-
nation upon the acts OF public officers. The
misconduct only OF public officers would de-
serve attention. Above all, you should not per-
NIT anything to draw you away from the main
aubject of the inquiry: HAS murder been COM
mitted and by whomy