Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-08
A VERY ODD MIXTURE.
One Grand Juryman in Jail and An
other Is Placed Under a Cloud.
BOGUS BUTTER MEN ARE SCORED.
Constables Told to Look After all 0leo-
margarine Dealers.
GENERAL WORK OF THE COUNTY COURTS

The March term of the Criminal Court
opened yesterday with Judge Collier pre-.
siding. The first business in order was the
swearing in and charging of the grand jury.
Judge Collier delivered the usual charge,
defining their duties, advising particular
carefulness in dealing with Illegal liquor
selling cases and laying stress on the point
as to what testimony they we're to hear in
all cases. They were to hear but one side,
the prosecution, and though human nature
sometimes might make them want to hear
both sides, they are not to do so, as it is a
misdemeanor punishable by fine. When
the charge was concluded Judge Collier ap-
pointed the Rev. Thomas NJ. Boyle, a Meth
odist minister from Braddock, as foreman
of the grand jury, and they retired to COM
mence their hearings
One unusual occurrence in connection
with this grand jury is that one of the men
drawn to serve on it is in Jail He is Henry
Coates, motorman, and is in Jail on a
charge of desertion, preferred by his wife
1t is not likely he will serve.
The grand jury had not finished business
when court adjourned and will make no re-
turns until to-day.
One Grand Jury Man in the Soup.
When they had retired the Court took up
the matter of reviewing constables' returns
The usual small number of violations were
reported by the constables, but among them
the name of one of the grand jurors was
included. The constable of Beltzhoover
borough reported him as selling liquor
without a license. He reported that an
information had been made against the
gentleman, James Lowry, and his wife,
before Squire Barr, charging them with
selling liquor without license. The case
was afterward dropped and the prosecutor
paid the costs.
While the returns were being received a
surprise was sprung by Attorney Willis F.
McCook. He had been taking notes for
quite while. when he arose and stated that
while the Court and District Attorney were
fulfilling their duties in asking for informa-
tion, the constables were not all doing as
required in the matter of persons selling
butterine and oleomargarine. He said he
intended to procure from the United States
revenue Office a list of the names of all per-
sons in the county who have taken out
Government license to sell oleo, etc He
would then furnish, through the District
Attorney, each constable with the names of
SUCH PERSONS III Ills ulstT1ct as 0aQ taken out
license. He then asked the Court to di-
rect that the constables report these persons
to court, making it as supplement to their
returns.
Rocks Ahead fsr Oieomargarine Men.
Judge Collier said the fact that person
had taken out license for selling the
article was prima facie evidence that he
was selling it, and ground enough on which
to return him to court. He would direct
the constables to add the names to their re-
ports whenever Mr.. McCook should furnish
them.
MI. McCook then started out to CON-
mence work getting the names of those
having Government license. The supple
mental reports, it was stated, would likely
be ready by Saturday. The punishment for
violating the State law prohibiting the sale
of oieomargarine is 800 fine 1t is not
known who Mr.. McCook is representing.
When the receiving of the constables' re-
turns had been concluded Judge Collier be-
gan the March term of court. The first and
only case tried yesterday was that of Frank
Dixon, charged with pointing firearms. The
suit is an echo of the Braddock wire mill
strike of two years ago. Dickson had been
working during the strike and drew a re-
volver on a crowd of men one night, who,
as he claims, had threatened his life. The
iury is ont