Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-27
THROW THE LIGHT ON THEM,
The Courts Violating the Grand
Jury Statute.
The Law Says Two Juries Shall Be
Called Each Year.
Nons At All Impanelled So Far This
Year-Numerous Official Short
comings Which Should
Be Investigated.

Within the past few days enough rot
,tenness has been exposed in county and
municipal affairs to call for the immedi-
ate impeachment of grand jury. Al
most the entire year of 1892 has passed,
and no grand jury has been impaneled
in Los Angeles county, despite the fact
that charges of corruption, malfeasance
in office, mutilation of records, illegal
naturalization, jobbery in connection
with the purchase OF courthouse furni-
ture, printing of the great register, etc.,
have been made against county and city
officials, openly and publicly.
CANDIDATES IN GRAVE POSITION.
Then, again, the parties against whom
these charges are made and reiterated
are again before the people asking to be
retained in position and power. They
do not answer the charges. and the peo-
pie are left in ignorance. Now, of all
times, should a good, honest, fearless
grand jury be impaneled to give the
people the truth. Justice to the parties
against whom these charges are made
also demands an investigation by grand
jury.
THE VIOLATED LAW.
In fact, it is stated by eminent legal
authority, that the failure of some one
of the superior judges to call grand
jury is in direct violation of law. Jesse
Hardesty was seen yesterday and asked
about the legal phase of the question,
and he claims that the statutes espec-
tally direct superior Judges in coun.
ties having more than three superior
judges to impanel two grand juries an
nually. In support of his position, Mr..
Hardesty cited section 241 of the code Of
civil procedure, which reads as follows
Section 241. Every superior court,
whenever in the opinion of the court
the public interest must require it, may
make and file with the county clerk an
order directing jury to be drawn, and
designating the number, which, in case
of grand jury, shall not be less than
twenty-five, nor more than thirty. In
all counties having less than three
superior court judges, there shall be one
grand jury drawn and impaneled in
each year; and in all counties having
three or more superior court judges,
there shall be two grand juries drawn
and impaneled in each year. Such
order must designate the time at which
the drawing will take place. The names
of such jurors shall be drawn, the list
of names certified and summoned, as
provided for drawing and summoning
trial jurors and the names of any per-
sons so drawn, who may not be impan-
eled on the grand jury, may be again
placed in the grand jury box Amend
ment, approved March Z. 1881 took ef-
feet January l, 1882
lit will be SEEM" said Mr.. Hardesty,
''from section 241, that in Los Angeles
county there should be two grand juries
drawn and impaneled each year, as the
county now has six departments of the
superior court. Why, then, in this year
of all years, has there been no grand
jury impaneled? The people are called
upon this year to elect new county
officers; charges of incompetency and
dishonesty have been made against
many of the candidates who are now
office holders. 1t is but fair to these
candidates that those charges be dis
proved if they are false. 1t is but just
to the people that they be informed OF
the fact, if those charges are true. If
those charges are true, and the proof Of
that fact is withheld from the
people, it may enable a dishonest
rascal to obtain a nomination
and election at the hands of the
people he has already betrayed. II
they are false, and the proof of their
falsity is withheld from the public,
honest and deserving men might suffer
thereby.
THE DUTY OF THE COURTS.
1t will be seen, therefore, that it is
the imperative duty of the superior
court to impanel grand jury in Los
Angeles county without delay. 1t now
lacks two months until November. A
grand jury can be impaneled, investi-
gate and report before then. It would
be great public benefit. Let the light
OF grand jury investigation be turned
on the transactions of the various
county officials, that they may know.