Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-21
MATTERS IN MISSISSIPPI. Sudden Ending of Circuit Court
 s5 at Meridian.
 1>101,n ,nnrnaAhln
IT WAS BY POPULAR DEMAND
The Dockei Was We'll Cleared and Much Ex
 pense to Be Saved.
THE BLIND TIGER IS AN ARTFuL BEAST
Some of the Subtifuges-A Torrid Time in the Primary at
 Jackson.

Meridian Miss. July 20.-(Special)- After rema ming in session less than two weeks Judge Terral, upon petition Of members of the bar and a large number of the business men of Meridian, preter- mtted the remaining three weeks Of the July term of the circuit court, there be- ing nothing done yesterday save the hearing of argument in motion made by defendants counsel in the case of the Brush Electric Light company vs. the Meridian Gas Light company, in which the latter is being sued for $6,S7315, and for which amount Judgment had been previously entered. This judg- ment was set aside and new trial granted in the case, which will be heard at the January term of the circuit court. Nearly all the civil business disposed or was either by compromise, continuance or submission to the courts, there peih9 but few cases tried by jury. The cr1mlnai docket was comparatively light, and the cases of those confined in the county Ja,i, except one negro charged with double homicide. and several who pleaded guilty and were sentenced to the penltentiafy, were continued and the parties adlnlt.eo to bail In view of these facts ana one very large expense that would necessarily be incurred in continuance or the term until the full limit fixed by law, Judge Terral yielded to a popular demand ana brought the session to close yesteroay morning The final report of the grand jury was presented to the court on Ihurs- day
 i,his report shows the examination or 2Og witnesses and the presentment or sixty-one true bills. The jury says that in all it's investigation, but llttle crime has been unearthed outside the city oi Meridian and it's immediate supurps. Here, they say, is found large number of idle negroes, without visible means oi support, who are ever ready to lehu tneIh- selves to any nfraction of the law, rom the purchase and sale of blind tiger vhisl<v to the committing of murder. In referring to that species of lawlessness known as the blind tigers, the Jury asserts that the presence or the eVii cah- not be denied, but admits that after nay ing "patently, earnestly ana Vlgorously endeavored to bring the offenders to JUS tice their efforts have not been crowned with the success desired, although rev of them were found" One or the uilh- culties with which the officers or the law are confronted in their Investigations oi the blind tiger business, and the deuofai- izing, deplorable tendency or the lrahic is told by the jury in this language:
 sWitnesses from whom we mlght De able to get facts sufficient to indict the tigers and gamblers leave the county inst before court begins and Of course IL l those who remain will not disclose any thing if they know it, preferring to com init perjury rather than tell on nose i. who indulge in this kind of crime. Ihe 4 grand jury makes spec1al relerehce III TT the report to their Investigations of the betting done on the result of the primary | election, recently held in this county. The ' indictments that were returned along this line, including, it is said, some Of the prominent business and professional men 1tr,. ,a6t1 , ton. It is the first instance in which the grand jury has taken any cogniZance Of this species of gambling. and the boys
 were considerably surprised. Several presentments were made for violation Of the Sunday law.
 .4t Four persons. all negroes, were ar ,. raigned for manslaughter. burglary and 2, larceny. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows:
 Charles King, burglary and grand lar lceny; two years in the penitentiary. Dave Baker, manslaughter two years in the penitentiary
 Robert Moore, grand larceny; one year in the penitentiary.
 'a Jim Knox, burglary and larceny; two years in the penitentiary.
 IIf These parties were conveyed to Jack son by special officer this morning.
 The twelfth annual session of the Patrons union chartered institution projected by the grange during the palmy days of that order. and whose 1! membership now embraces those of every q calling directly connected with agricul- ture, will be held at Lake, Miss. begin ming next Saturday, the 27th instant. These annual gatherings are the source of much. profit to those who attend, as there is always an intelligent discussion of questions of importance to the people of the state by men of deep learning who have made the topics assigned them subjects of special study. There is also an elaborate display of the products of the farm, the agricultural, horticultural and live stock departments furnishing abundant evidence of the thrift and in- dustry of the people and the great re- sources of Mississippi
 The Patrons union has done and is doing much towards educating the peo- pie along new and better lines, and it's annual sessions are always looked for ward to with a large degree of pleasure by the thousands of people all over Mis- sissippi who take delight in these unions. The union usually remains in session a week or ten days. A well trained brass band has been secured and a splendid programme arranged for the occasion. The following is the programme for the opening day:
 Grand parade at 10 a. m. ltIt ''What Is Masonry" by Frederick Speed.
 Essay by Miss Katie Brannin
 Benefits of Masonry to Mankind, by James T. Harrison, grand master. rMoral Features of Masonry" by A. M, Byrd.
 Recita ton by Miss Bertha Ams.
 Charitable Deeds of Masonry by J. L. Powers.
 Protection of Masonry, Especially to Women" by Rev. Irwin Miller
 Essay by an inmate of Masonic Wid- 1 ows' home.
 Benevolent Features of Masonry" by 1 A. H. Barkley
 Republication of work at p. m., for | benefit of the craft, by A. M. Hicks. grand lecturer and D. D. G. M.
 Since the resignation of Rabbi Fryer !