The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-07
GRAND JURY.
Names of Those Who viii Inquire
Into Public Shortcomings.
Judge Trout Instructs the Jurors and Tells
Them They Must Show That the Jury
System Is Not Failure.

The Grand Jury was completed yesterday
and is composed Of the following citizens:
Michael Meagher. William Heneke, David
FarquharsOn. T. j. Bass. Gustavus L. Spear,
Henry C. Macy, NJ. E. Rountree, Louis
Lask, William Macondray, Edward Aeker-
man, Joseph Fredericks, Charles NJ. Plum.
J. P. Fraser, j. H. O'Brien, c. A. Murdoch,
L. l.. Dennery, Patrick Lynch, John Rosen-
field, William Broderick.
Judge Trout selected Gustavus L. Spear
foreman, but Mr. Spear declined at first to
accept the honor. The Judge would not
excuse him, however, so he was sworn in,
and the jury as completed received the fol
lowing charge:
Mr.. Foreman and gentlemen Of the Grand
jury:
In compliance with a statutory requirement,
the court viii now proceed TO charge you con-
corning the nature OF your duties and the scope
of your powers as grand jurors.
Al tn outset viii remind you that you are
all accuSaiOry body, carefully selected from the
resident citizens of this city aud county and i'm
paneed for the purpose Of investigating lie con.
duct OF our public officers and inquiring into
such criminal wIOngdOing within your luIiSdlc-
ton as may affect tho peace and welfare of our
municipality aud our citizens.
You are clothed with legal authority TO indct
any, person for any public offense committed or
tTiable within this city and county.
You are not bound to hear evidence for de-
PENDANT, but IL is your duty 10 weigh all the evi.
dence submitted TO you, and when you have Tea-
son 10 believe that other evidence within your
reach would explain away the charge under con-
SideraIiOn YOU should order such evidence to be
produced, ana for tnat purpose you may re-
quiTe the District Attorney TO issue process for
the witnesses.
Your foreman mag administer an oath TO any
person appearing before your honorable body.
You must bear IN mind, however, that for The
purpose OF finding an indictment you can re-
ceive no other evidence than such as is given by
Witnesses nFOQueaG before
furnished by legal document AIRY evidence or The
deposition OF witness taken according TO law
Our Penal Code declares that Grand Jury
ought 10 find AN Indictment when all the EVIL.
denee before them. taken together. If explained
or uncOnttadicted, would IN their judgment war
rant conviction by a trial jury.
II any grand juror knows or has reason TO be-
eye that public ottense, triabe within this
city and county. has been committed, he must
declare the same 10 his fellow jurors aud they
must thcreupon investigate the same.
ANY grand Juror Wbe T{lifuily disclOSeS any
evidence adduced before The Grand Jury, or
anything which he himself or any other member
of the Grand Jury may have said. or in what
manner he or any other gTard juror may bave
voted on matter before them except when re-
ouiied by court. is guilty of mlsdemeanOr.
grand juror cannot be questioned for any
Thing he may say or any vote he may give In tie
Grand jury room relative to a matter legally
pending before The Grand Jury, except for
perjury OF which he may be gully IN making an
accusation OF giving testimony 10 his fellow
jurors.
or course you have the right, at all reasonable
times 10 ask the advice Of The court, or the
Judge thereof, or of The District Attorney.
II is your DUTY to make a careful ana complete
examination Of the books records and accounts
OF all The officers OF this city and county, and
especially those pertaining 10 the revenue, ana
Teport thereon.
The present condition OF public affairs In this
community IS such that l must urge you, al
though you must need no such spur, 10 be
prompt and vigorous in the performance OF your
official duties. Tie custom of meeting only
twice week should be more hOnored In the
breach than The observance.
Let your attention be given. not TO petty mat
tiers Of mere private interest (fOr other tribunals
have sufficient Jurisdiction and power and capa-
city 10 dispose satisfactorily OF tile same but 10
serious matters of public importance.
From your deeds let California as well as San
Francisco learn OF your common and determined
purpose 10 resist all tempiai Ions whether arlS-
ing from political or social atiIiatl0u business
relations, and 10 overcome all obstacles 10 your
official progress, aud finally 10 complete your la
bOrs IN manner that viii purify the moral at
mOsphere and promote the general welfare.
Then will the world know that our Grand Jury
system IS not failure, aud that this great and
beautiful city OF ours net only believes IN the eX-
pOSure and punishment OF all offenders against
our penal laws, however prominent aud intiu en-
tial they may have been. but mas citizens who
have enough energy aud courage and ability
and public spirit 10 force sucn offenders 10
answer at the bar OF public justice for their
crimes.
Actions speak louder than words. Let your
judgment and your conscience approve your acts.
Fear not aud you Will faithfully discharge your
duty.
You may now retire, gentlemen, 10 the Grand
Jury rooms for organization and elaboration
c. A. Murdoch was elected secretary, and
the next meeting will be on Monday, May9.