The Lake Charles echo., 1893-09-08
nIatrict Conrt.


On Monday, tho 9Th inst, the September term
Of the district court opened. MF. Sam 2.
Wsthsrill was selected as foreman Of the grand
jury, and the buzz Of favorable comment which
followed the announcement proved thAt Judge
FOurnct has put the right manir the right place.
The remaining members Of the grand jury are
Csrpsen Gardsen, Il. B. Read C. FrAzse, JnO.
Carter, Jr,, .. v. Moss, Jr Dan ElIender, 5. R.
KlngrUy, il. Hewitt, J. NJ. MoCain, W. Buck.
ingham, BsD Butler, ,Aleeo Dugas, S. L. ]. Andrus,
Emile GuiIlory and C. n. Ksarncy.
Judge FourDct delivered his charge, which we
display In another column, and call especial
at entOn to It as being Of the most lucid com.
PrehOnsive, business-like productions it has ever
been cur pleasure to hear.
He briefly summonizes the duties, powers and
great responsibility Of the grand inquest and
calls, in q very especial manner, their attention
to the fact that their duties do not stop At inyes
tigation of Oifenses already committed, but
that their farreaching powers extend into the
working branches Of our paroohisl and municipal
government, and they are instructed to fully
safety themselves that the officers charged with
the execution Of the law are awake to the Deoes'
sity Of preventing as well as Furnishing crime.
The question of distinctions in nayigabls
streams and that Of tTespass on public lands is
again brought 10 their notice, and "the brutal
habit Of carrying concealed weapons" receives
due attention. He does not forget to mention the
miserable Oense of selling Intoxicating liquors to
minors, or Of inticing children from the paths OF
virtue Every parents heart will follow his earn
est words in defense of our sons and daughters
even against themselves.
The Sunday law, that famous enactment, geta
its turn in the charge, and he tells them plainly
that while 1t stands on the statute books 1t must
/ be Obeyed, and he shows them that their GOndem
nation may wake the town authorities to the
necessity Of enforcing the laws. On the publi'
road question his language is 80 full and explicit
| that in an attemptt0 summOTize it we find our
| selves following his exact wordsi "The work oI
those roads Is now mostly let out by contract
this fact does not dispense you from the duty o
seeing that they are constructed according to tn
| specifications of the contract, and because tn
police Jury, under the law, has full control owe
them, your power and duty 10 examine into al
matters relative to the general welfare Of tn
parish renders 1t incumbent upon you to exAmin
into and report any case OF instance where th
requirements Of the law or the condition Of th
contracts for the public roads and bridges hav
not been complied with as well as every cas-
where the oOntractitselfis defective and intdtiOu
to the parish" With q road or two in our mind
we prayerfdlly call the grand jurys attention
the Judges words.
The sanitary condition Of Lake Charles
brought before their notice and they are told tina
they are not debarred by reason Of special chart
ers, ETC.. from examining into the health-destroI
ing nuisances which may possibly be lurking i
our midst. We are gratifed to read this pOrtiO
of the charge, as we feel sure the grand jur
will, after investigation give us a clear bill Q
health. Mayor Crowley lie doing all in his POWe
to make and keep the city clean aud healthfu
and their report will he official notification to th
world that Lake Charles is q safe and pleasan
summer, as well as winter resort.
The railroads and street railways are ''CaIe
down" neatly and empbatioally, and the two row
Of rust and yellow weeds which have quarantine
the lake front from the public use, are hOnOred b
special attention. Some weeks ago we spoke G
this funny little independent railway whic
stands like q waTt on a WOman's nose, neitbe
useful OF ornamental but we little thought ths
official notice would be given the matter. L
conclusion he exhOrts them to do their whole dut
unbiased, untrammeled, free from spite or envy
uninfuenCed by feelings of friendship or the spu
of hate and ever remembering the immense II
sponsibility placed on their shoulders.
Take the charge as . whole and the eKtemP'
raneous remarks at its close, we look upon it 9
one of the best contributions in defense Of th
laws majesty that we hRYe ever read