The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-05-25
THAT OLD COURT HOUSE /!
Judge BoYkin, in His Charge to the
Grand Jury, Says it Must Go.
TO INDICT THE COMMISSIONERS
For Failure to Act Upon Former Re-
concentrations for Building New
Court House-No More Recommen-
dations Wantsd-The Time For
Heroic Action Has Arrived

Court House-No More Recommen-
dations Wantsd-The Time For
Heroic Action Has Arrived
The May term of court for For
syth opened at 1890 Monday
with Judge E. T. Boykin presiding,
and Solicitor w. W. Barber, of the
Ninth district, prosecuting for the
State:
The following persons compose the
grand jury drawn:
E. NJ. Sell, John w. Ellis, r. l..
Joyner, S. Fl; Spease, J. ". Doub, e.
A. Ebert, Q. T. Pope, j. w. Flynt, e.
w. Lasley, w. D. Stockton, John NJ
Vanhoy, A. NJ. Burk, III. w. Lindsay,
e. j. Davis, Daniel Smith, John L.
Ebert, Robert G. Bell, L. e. Griffith.
Mr.. E. A. Ebert, of Salem, was
elected foreman.
j. w. Hester was sworn in as an
officer to attend on the grand jury at
this term.
The clerk having administered the
oath of Office to the grand jurymen,
Judge Boykin proceeded to deliver his
charge. 1t was one characteristic of
this able jurist. His eXpositiOns of
the law are so plain and comprehen-
sive that no room is left in the minds
of the jury for doubt as to their duty,
or as to extent of their jurisdiction.
AS preliminary to his charge the
Judge dWelt for some time upon, and
laid down as the basis of his charge,
1.-The forces which initiate against
the enforcement OF the law" 1t is eS-
sential to the welfare sof the COM
munity that the law should be en-
forced, and it is highly important
that there should be a specified time
and place for the enforcement of the
law. The place is as essential as the
time. A duty which the jury cannot
evade is an investigation of the place
for the administration of the law.
On three previous occasions, while
presiding over the courts of Forsyth
county, he has directed the attention
of the grand jury to the condition of
the court house. Other judges on
different occasions have done like
wise. Following these suggestions.
the grand jury has repeatedly made
recommendation to the county
authorities looking to the improve
ment of the present court house or
the building of new one. But, as
our people are painfully aware, these
recommendations have gone for
naught. The Judge said that he real
lied and deprecated the feeling that
sometimes exists between the country
and town-a feeling CT jealousy on
the part OF the country people who
seem to barber an antipathy to con-
tributing to any enterprise which
builds up the town. Any feeling OF
that kind on the part of the grand
jury would be extremely improper
and violation of their oath. Action
on their part is a matter of official
duty in which personal feeling must
h. apf VT is Cf
wealth. Her people are industrious
and prosperous. The county has COM
paratively little indebtedness and is
in good condition. Other counties of
less wealth have magnificent court
houses for the administration of JUS
tice. The people of Forsyth would
hardly feel the additional tax that
would be necessary for the erection of
a good court house, certainly the in
crease would not be burdensome.
A court house commensurate with
would not only add to the
dignity of the community
but would add dignity0tO the court.
Feels himself more dignified, more
etherealiZed, so to speak, when pre-
siding over court in a building COM
porting with the dignity and imp0r-
lance of the law. Winston is town
of great enterprise and Importance
and is the pride of the State. There
is not a business man Of note in the
city who does not do business in a bet
ter building than the court house.
The Judge went on to refer to the
fact that petit juries, no matter what
the weather may be, are sometimes
compelled to go out into the open air
for consultation pending the finding
of a verdict. Also to the Insecurity
of the records, the destruction of
which would be irreparable and en-
tail interminable litigation.
Summing up this portion Of his
charge Judge Boykin said he would
now impose upon the grand jury a
very solemn and important duty, and
a very unpleasant one. 1t was sim
pie duty which the law laid upon him
TO instruct the grand jury to present
the board of commissioners and the
magistrates of the county for miSde-
meanor in failing gto act upon the
recommendations heretofore made by
the grand jurieS under direction OF
the court. He wanted no more recon-
mend They had proved of no
avail and now heroic measures must
be adopted.
The authorities have rallied in the
performance of plain duty and they
must be indicted. He is not interested
in the matter except in a general way,
as he may never visit the county
again in an official capacity. But the
citizens are profoundly interested.
They will 'be here DIT each recurring
| session of court as parties in interest,
| as witnesses, jurors and spectators,
! and they are at least entitled to com
Portable surroundings. Inadequate
accommodations for the court is one
of the things which initiates against
the proper enforcement of the law.
The Judge then proceeded TO charge
the jury lucidly and fully on the law
in regard to perjury, suhornatioL
Of perjury, bribery, embracery, barra
try, and several other offenSes more
commonly brought before the courts
The charge was complete, able anG
| forceful, and evidently made fayora
bic impression on the grand jury and
all present.