Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-11-17
Judge Wilson's Charge.


Gentlemen Of the Grand Ju5y:
The duties devolved on you by your Sc.
lection as jurors, and which by your oath of
office you have assumed are of very great
importance to the community, and upon
their faithful and impartial performance TO
q large extent depends the safety, security
and peace of your fellow citizens. You
will ever bear in mind that you are the
guardians of the citizen as well as of the laws,
and that 1t IS as much your duty to protect
the people against Just accusations as II is
10 bring the violators of the law to trial.
Your inquiries must be confined to offenses
committed in the county; with the punish
ment Of those offenses you fave nothing 10 do
and in your deliberations you are not in any
manner TO be influenced by consideration oil
the punishment that may be inflicted on the
accused. Your sole inquiry is, has an Of
Tense been committed, and has 1t been salts
iactorily proved II it has, you will find an
indictment; If 1t has not you will reject il.
You will carefully investigate all accusa-
tons Of crime which may be brought to
your notice, and weigh and consider well
all the testimony adduced to you, the credi
bility of the witnesses, the circumstances
surrounding the transaction and the proba-
bilites of the thing sworn to, and only find
indictments where the facts are satisfactorily
proved, and you are reasonably certain of
the guilt of the accused. You are not re.
quired TO accept as true whatever may be
positively sworn TO before you. You are
the sole judges of the credibility of the wit
nesses and OF the facts sworn TO, and II you
have reason TO believe from personal know-
edge or otherwise that witness is unworthy
Of credit, you are at liberty TO disregard his
statements.
II seems supernuous to tell you that
your examinations must be secretly con
Quoted and that nothing that transpires in
the jury room, either Of what is said or done,
must be divulged, nor are witnesses TO be
called and examined for the accused. The
counsel of the State, your fellows and your
own you are sworn TO keep secret and also
TO present no person for any hatred, malice
or i'll will, nor TO leave any one unpresented
for love, fear, favor or affection, or for any
hope or promise OF reward, but present all
things truly as they come TO your knowl-
edge. Upon the strict performance Of this
oath depends the satisfactory performance OF
your responsible duties. 1t Is not necessary
that the accusation of crime against any
person shall be proved TO the satisfaction oil
your entire body. majority Of you can
find an indictment when they are satisfied
from the evidence Of the guilt of the accused.
feel constrained TO again bring 10 your
attention the continued violation of the local
option law in this county, resulting 10 the
great injury Of the best interests of the coun
ty and the decentralization Of many Of It's
citizens. You will give these cases careful
investigation and find indictments only
where the testimony fully warrants IL. !
regret that the Court has not the discretion.
airy power TO send the vioators Of this law
to the House Of Correction, for In this way
only do think il possible to break up the
illegal traffic in spirltuous liquors.
| call your attention 70 article ~, sec. 3,
Code Of Public General Laws In relation 10
the sale Of drugs for procuring abortion, and
of section AZ Of the same article In relation
10 deiaulting public officers, not that | am
aware Of any violations of these provisions
of the law, but because il is made my duty
by the Code TO give them in charge 10 yon.
The States Attorney will advise you in all
matters of law about which You are in
doubt and give you such advice in the dis
charge Of your duties as you may require.