The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-13
THE GRAND Jury AT WORK.
JUDGE sPEER GROWS ELOQUENT
AND REMINISCENT IN AD-
DRESSING 1T.

IheE Are Assem- bteu-Ihe DuNies
OF Grand Jurors spoken Of-The
United States Courts BeIOng TO
Those in Whose Communities
They Are Located - Testimony
Concluded in the Case Against the
British BARK Lebu.
The grand jury in the United States
court was sworn in yesterday. after
which the jurors received the charge OF
the court and began the consideration OF
the many criminal cases that are to come
before them.
Only nineteen of those summoned as
grand jurors appeared. They are Messrs.
! John j. Neyitt, John NJ. Cason, j. Frank
Cook. II. T. Estin. Thomas F. screven,
Ansell c. Parrish, Erward Mcintyre, WA.
Murray, Thomas \. Brewer, /. B. Tiede-
man, Hamilton Greiner. J. W. Wilson.
Paul NJ Edwards, II. d. Stevens. J. c.
Calhoun. e. f. Coney, Abraham Vetsburg.
Francis l. Mccall and lack d. DeLoach.
Mr.. Edward Mcintyre was chosen fore
man. The district court petit jury was
also sworn in, and that of the circuit
court win be ready for business to-day.
In charging the grand jury Judge Speer
referred to the organization of the United
States courts, and the origin of the funda-
mental principles underlying them. He
called attention to the fact that these
courts were closely identified with the in
terests of each community in which they
were located. While it administered the
laws of the country. he said, and not Of
| a particular state, II was nevertheless, the
court of the people, in whose midst IT
was. The interests of life and property
that these courts preserve are those of the
| people in the communities around them,
and Georgian, Judge Speer said, would
as quickly resent an insult u the stars
and stripes as a slur upon the honor of his
native state. His reference TO the govern
ment building, In which the court is held
/ and the history connected with It was elo-
quent and beautiful OF those who have
| assembled within it's walls, he said:
John Mcpherson Berrien, Ward and
| Charlton, Owens and Lloyd, Lowell and
Law, the manly intrepid and generous
i Barlow, the eloquent and persuasive Hart
! ridge, Chisholm. with mind as true in
1
! Damascus blade, William Dougherty. of
whom, when a boy, / heard Mr.. Hill de-
| clare he was "a lion in the court house."
| and Benz min II. Hill himself, of whom
| once heard Toombs say that, taking his
powers of writing and his powers OF
| speaking, we did not see his equal more
| than once in a century" and ToOmbs, the
! Mirabeau of the south, Linton ana Alex
ander II. Stephens. par Mobile fratres,
have impressed their glowing personality
/ their ardent love of country and their de-
votion to truth on the imperishable
records of these courts, and well and
worthily must we bear ourselves if we do
no despite to the standards of public duty
their lives have created for our imitation.
Nor have the judges Of the past been I'M
worthy of the illustrlous advocates OF the
| lllustrious bar. OF these, the last, the VEN
cradle Erskine, who, until few days ago,
! had lived In all the sweetness and happi-
ness of an old age, frosty but kindly,
passed away like one who draws the
drapery of his couch around him and Les
down to pleasant dreams
Under such circumstances and sur
| roundings, he said, every man should be
| impressed with sense OF responsibility
to state and country. He called attention
/ to the fact that the action of the grand
Jury was necessary to set the machinery
of the courts in motion, since no citizen
could be held to answer for a capital or
otherwise infamous offense save on its
indictment.
q think no people, he said, more than
the people of these southern states had
ever the need for the steady and unflinch-
ing enforcement of the laws That we
| need intelligent leg station on many lines,
Is probably true. and this il is the province
| of others to discuss If, however, we do
not enforce the laws we have we may be
very sure we will not enforce the laws
we may have. Indifference of duty on the
part of those charged with the enforce
! ment Of the law deadens the public con-
science. until men become hopeless of
reform and themselves join in with the
army of breakers of the law"
The enforcement of the law, he said,
should be impartial, rigid. certain and
/ without any respect of persons, but at
the same time, it should be humane and
generous, and as much care should be
taken TO protect the innocent as to pre-
sent the guilty. But" he said, you
! should ever bear in mind the terms of the
! aU-comprehending oath that you have
taken. you shall diligently inquire, true
q sentiments make, without fear, favor,
reward or the hope thereof, and you shall
present all things truly, to the best of
! your skill and knowledge, and TO aid you
4 in the performance of this oath you in
woke the assistance of Almighty God,
! the searcher Of hearts, and from whom
YOU cannot conceal any mental reserVa-
J ton or purpose of evasion.
These are not idle words, gentlemen
/ There is no preacher who ascends the
/ pulpit on the Lords day, who has a more
sacred duty to perform to his fellow man
than the grand juryman who takes this
oath And indeed you have the words
of inspiration for your guidance. For, as
have recently said to another grand
/ fury Of true and noble men. you may trace
/ every intelligent human law, of whatever
/ description commanding that which is
right and prohibiting that which is
wrong to that inspired code of ten sec
/ tons Inscribed on the tablets of the law
amid the thunders of Sinai. and that
/ eleventh section dedicated by the all-con-
pretending wisdom and tender love of
| the Master. Love Thy Neighbor as Thy
! self. 8"
Judge Speer concluded with an expla.
nation of the manner in which they were
/ 10 enter upon their duties, and expressed
| the hope that they would have a pleasant
/ session
The grand jury retired to begin the con
[ slderation of the cases that are to come
before it, but has as vet returned no in
D a. rrsHa