The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-05-03
HE WHEELS OF JUSTICE.
Put In Motion in This County by
Judge Webber Tuesday,.
A Grand Jury Charge That Can be
Read Between Lines.
The County Commission ers Said to
Want Some Indictments.

District court convened at IL o'clock
last Tuesday with as few cases on the
calendar as Redwood county has seen
for long time. The grand jury was
the first body called before His Honor,
and Judge Webber gave them the
customary charge. He first announced
that 6. E. Mckay, of this city, was
appointed foreman of the jury, and
then began his charge, which varied
but little from the many already
made by the Judge, and which are
merely explanatory of the law.
His first variation from the routine
charge was probably directed towards
the Brown county jurors, who violated
their oaths by divulging the secrets
of the jury room. He stated that the
legislature had made it criminal Of
fense for jurors to disclose the secrets
of the jury room, and that the rule
laid down at that time did not only
apply to the time being but through
out the life of the juror. He particu-
larl Y admonished the jurors to be Sc
cretive in their efforts, and contended
that the keeping of it's proceedings
secret was the greatest duty the vari-
GUS members had.
He pointed to the fact that selling
Intoxicating liquor to Indians was an
indictable offense, and if there were
any such offenses committed here in
Redwood county the jury should lose
no time in indicting the offenders.
Judge Webber closed his charge
with desire that the jury be safely
hasty in its actions, contending that
it was large body, and every day
that it was in session it made quite an
expelse for the county. He advised
thel.., however, to be safe and careful
in the proceedings, as no money was
ever better expended than the bring
ing of criminals to justice. Redwood
county, he said, "has been peculiar
ly unfortunate in the large number of
crimes that it has been called upon to
prosecute of late, but that does not
make any difference. If there have
been more committed, you should re-
turn indictments, and continue in ses-
on until you have made thorough
investigation of the charges
The jury was here placed in charge
of a deputy sheriff and conducted to
the grand jury room, where, after
electing clerk, it took a recess dur
ing the noon hour. James Durtnal
was excused on account of being over
60 years of age, and at his request, on
that ground.
From all indications, up to the hour
of going to press, it appears that the
commissioners are attempting to get
out new indictments against Michael
NJ. Madigan,who is at present in Still
water, but whose application for a
new trial will be argued before the
Supreme Court on May 25th. For
nearly all of the witnesses that attend
ed the grand jury at the November
and special January term, in the Hell
geson Il Mogen perjury case, and
the Peterson incest case, are in at
tendance, waiting to be examined by
the grand jury. It is also barely pos
sible that the State will attempt to
get an indictment of some kind
against Madigan on the forged deed
case of DuHeld and US. Grant, who
also receive some attention from the
grand jury. The wheat and harness
stealing cases, the Watson wild mus
tard case, etc., will be brought before
the jury and an interesting, as we'll as
a lengthy session of that body may be
looked for.