Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-09-22


c. f. Carter, after which Sheriff Reeves
made the customary proclamation conven-
ing the September term of court ana sum
moning the grand and petit jurors. Among
the attorneys present from out OF town
were. Hon. {. W. Witter5 and &. d. WIT
son, esq, Of st. Albaus, Hon. ;. c. Shurt-
Left OF Montpelier, Hon. NJ. a. Bingham of
Essex Junction, II. L. Powell, esq, OF Nil
ton, V. y. Builard ond J. j. Monahan OF
Underhill II. n. Deavitt and H. f. VOL
colt of Wnoo5k. The grand jury was
called by Clerk Ray, foar heing absent, one
of whom, W. ". iligbee was excused, one
Mr.. Truell being dead, as noted el-eDEere,
while the court ordered the others to be
notified that their presence was required.
TIE GRAND JURY.
The grand jurors are; Bolton, L. II. Gil
lett burlington, G. G. Peterson, James
Truman, y. II. Parker; Charlotte, W. w.
HgLoe; Colchoster. John IL. Lyon; Essex,
Clark W. Bates; Hinesburgh, II. NJ. Page;
Huntington, Fl. NJ. Small; Jericho, NJ II.
Chaplin: Milton, Charles |. Ladd; Rich
mond, &. T. Rhoudes; Shelburne J. Y. S.
Meach; South burlington, =. y. Drury;
st. George, II. Il. TiIlsy; Underhill, c. L.
Truell; Westford, y. 9. Robinson; Willis
ton, j. B. Steurns.
1alesmen were then drawn to complete
the iurv. They we're; l.. f. Terriu of IN
dcrhill. 4. Il. Rood of Essex, d. {. Barber
of burlington and Albert Town of Rich
mond. After they had been sworn Judge
Eoweli delivered item very able and de
tailed charge regarding their duties. lie
spoke substant ally Us follows:
JUDGE RowELL's CHARGE TO THE GRAND
JURY
There was a time in the history of the
law Of England when accusations OF crime
were loft to the general voice Of the neigh
borLood denOunciuE the guilt of the suspect
ed person.
This practice grow out of peculiar sYs-
tenn of society that made every man
surety for the conduct Of his neiaubor, aud
therefore responsible to q certain extent for
crimes committed by him; and so every
community had direct interest in discover
ing maletactor5 and bringing them to JUS
ticc.
At later time, when the judges paid
their periodical. visits 10 the counties they
caused to be summoned before them i ,
Ani CUTS or othqr good and lawful men, for
each hundrel, which was q SUI division OF
the county, aud charged them upon their
oaths to inquire respecting crimes com
mitted within their respective EundreGs, so
that they might be ready 20 present atI oc ct
ed persons 10 the court az = future day hzcI
by the Judges. These jurors were substi-
| tute Tor the pubic rumor by which mon
were aforctime accused; and they not only
aroused, but lhcy tried the truth OF the ac
cusu;iou rs we'll; nor can the exnct time
be ascerta aimed when the accusing Jury aud
the trying jury became separate ana dis
/ Z yI,, ,,1
fal! into disusc, which was an ancient mode
OF trial in criminal case,
These indictors, as Bractoa calls them,
were to inquire III respect OF crimes com
mitted within their own hundred only. The
! frs. mention OF n Grand luuus,t tor the
whoio county was about the year 1868,
/ wien in addition to the panels returned by
| the hailir, Of each hundred of tue county,
tho sneriM returned Il pane! Of knights for
the whole county, which was called the
Grand luuuost and its duty Was. most like
| ". to inuuiro at large for every hundred in
| the county in case there was any omissions
or nInlpractices on the part OF the hundred
ors who tool, the sma Ter inquests; and as
! tne latter were freoueutlv called upon to
sit in the tria. of civil causes. this double
office doubtless was felt to pe a burden.
! from which they would gladly b4 relieved
by casting the duty OF mak,ng plesentments
ns much a, possible on th, knichts OF the
Grand iugu,st Thus. prcseutneuts by the
I I.ri ,rts instanl OF holm, ,oors,y us mt first
/ suprlementnl to those OF the hundredoys,
rra1uailv nltocether u,,irrcd The plsce OF
| thsm; and so the grand iarv system as it
now exist, was fully dsyclopci.
! In the strugglgs that >, times arose in
/ I,,gIouI between the ro,yars ~ tina l,iap
/ - ~, ri,.t-, Of tb, .ui.;.c+ ,.o i,stitu'