Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-10-20
ship in the great newspaper and through
that to imperial influence in bringing in
the better day for man."
Plain Talk at Court.

Judge Fosters Important Charge to the
Grand Jury in Androscoggin in Regard
to Liquor Hearings.
Judge Fosters charge to the grand Jury
In opening the court at Auburn, was most
direct and most important
After fully Indicating to the jury what
their duties were and how they were held
by the law he said to them the following
upon the liquor law and its legal enforce
ment.
1t is so timely and so pithy that we give
it to our readers entire.
After charging the jury upon the gen.
eral principles pertaining to their duty
the court proceeded and said:
| wish, gentlemen of the jury, to call
your attention to the law in relation to the
sale OF intoxicating liquors. This is made
an offense by the statutes of this State,
aud Is as much crime as any other offense
designated as crimes by the statutes of our
state. Its violation il so frequent that
deem it my duty to call your attention
especially to what your duties are in rela-
tion to this ohense. You are here to act
In accordance with the oaths you have
taken that no man shall be unpresented
for love, fear favor, affection or hope Of
reward. IL the law has been violated in
this respect it is incumbent upon you
under your oaths which you have taken to
see II such law has been violated and to
examine the evidence that is presented be-
fore you, and determine whether or not
there has been violations of that law.
There is to-day, and has been, and will
be in the future class of men who be-
iiaUs hat th..i iatt u.
intoxicating liquors should be further
amended, and more stringent penalties i'm
posed. | am one, however, who believes
that the law existing in our statute books
is sufficient, If enforced, to drive those
who violate its provisions from this ne
farious business.
1t is not the enactment of the law that
will suppress the sale of intoxicating
liquors. 1t is the enforcement and by the
provisions Of our statute to which shall
call your attention, 1t is specifically pro-
vided "Sheritfs, and their deputies. and
county attorneys, shall diligently and
faithfully inquire into all violations of law
within their respective counties and insti-
tute proceedings against violations or sup
posed violations of law and particularly
laws against the Illegal sale Of intoxica-
ting liquors, and the keeping of drinking
houses and tlppling shops and gambling
houses or places and houses OF i'll fame
either by promptly entering a complaint
before a magistrate and executing the
warrants issued thereon, or by furnishing
the county attorney promptly with the
names Of alleged offenders Of the law and
the witnesses"
There is further provision enacted by
the Legislature Of this State and it is thls
The mayor and aldermen, the selectmen,
assessors and constables in every city,
town and plantation shall make complaint
and prosecute all violations of this chapter
and promptly enforce laws against drink
ing houses"
Therefore, gentlemen, | impress this
upon your attention that while it is in
upon the officers Of the law to
see that these law. are not violated, and II
violated TO present such violations before
your body, IL IS equally incumbent on you
that you shall act in accordance with your
oaths, examine the evidence and ascertain
" neither or not there has been a violation
of the provisionsof the statute in relation
to the sale OF intoxicating liquors.
Ii is made o crime as we'll as the crime
OF larceny, burglary, or offences against
your habitations, and it Is as incumbent
upon you as men acting under your official
oaths az the grand jury of this county
to see that violator- Of this law are
dealt with, as much as Il is
those who violate the laws In relation to
larceny, theft and burglary or any other
criminal law
1t is not for you. it i. not for me, In our
spheres to discriminate between the en-
forcement Of one law and another. 1t Is
only for Ia N M sta ha Lac NJ
there has been violation. OF 1t, to see that
those violations are not passed over In
silence. 1t is not for you. it is not for
me, TO determine whether the law NAV be
in accordance with our judgment; whether
such law be in accordance with our private
judgment as the most proper, the most
expedient, that might be enacted, but it i.
for Us 10 see whether or not those laws
have been violated, and expect you, act
ing under your official oaths, TO rise above
all private interests. to act in accordance
with your oficisl oaths and determine from
the evidence before you whether there Is
probable cause to believe the law has been
violated, and II violated for you to do
your duty as men, rising above all feelings
OF personal nature and acting in ac-
cordance with your official oaths, that no
man shall escape for love, fear, favor,
affection or hope of reward
l speak Of this to impress upon YOU in
asmuch az undoubtedly in this as in some
other sections of our state, there is more
violation Of the law pertaining to the
illegal sale Of liquors than any other law
upon our statute book, and II this law is
enforced by the officers OF the law, as it is
their duty To enforce 1t. there is law
enough to effect lts object