The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-08-03
About Grand Jurics.

| As our people have never enjoyed
/ the luxury of grand jury. few If any
| know much about the nature or func-
| tons of such a body. To be brief as
possible, the county board of SupeTvls-
ors at it's annual meeting in November
of each wear, prepares list of seventy
five legal voters and free holders of the
county for grand jury possibilities. This
list is turned over to the new board of
commissioners at IFS fret session the fol-
lowing NAV. Then if a grand jury is de-
manded the Clerk of Court, in the pres
ence Of the Sheriff and Justice Of the
Peace, draws from such list seventeen
names and these persons constitute the
jury.
The duties Of the Jury are described
in section 2 ,547 as follows:
Section 2.547. Whenever a grand
iurv is summone d the clerk OF the court
shall prepare list Of the names of the
persons returned as grand jurors, and
when the jury is to be impaneled two
persons on the list shall be first called
and the following oath shall be admin
istered to them: "Iou, as grand jurors
of tbs inquest, for the body OF this
county OF - do solemnly swear that
you will diligently inquire, and true
presentment make. of all such matters
and things as shall be given you IN
charge; the counsel of the state OF Wis
consin, your fellows and your own, you
shall present no man for envy, hatred
or malice, neither shall you leave any
man unpresented for love, tear, favor.
II h
shall present things truly as thew come
to your knowledge, according to the
best of your understanding so help you
God The other jurors shall then be
called in such divisions as the court
may deem proper and the following
oath shall be administered to them:
The same oath which your fellows
have taken on their part, YOU and each
Of YOU on YOUR behalf, shall well and
truly observe and keep; SO help you
God
All sessions of the Jury are secret and
all its acts as well. except the brief
statement of its findings which are
briefly stated thus, "a true bill" or mot
a true bill" Even an accused person
cannot appear before the Jury.
ACCUSED MAY OBJECT.
Section 2,54S provides that: 'Any
person held to answer to any criminal
charge may object on the competency
of any one summoned to serve as q
grand Juror before he il sworn. on the
ground that he is a prosecutor or com
plainant upon any charge against such
person, or that he is a witness on the
part of the prosecution and has been
subpoenaed or been bound in q recog-
nizance as such, and if such objection
be established, the person summoned
shall be set aside"
All persons who are citizens of the
United States and are qualified electors
of the state are eligible to be drawn as
grand jurors, except few who shall be
exempt, as specified in section 1925, as
amended in March, 1898 Here are a
few of the exceptions All judges, clerks
Of courts of record, all county officers,
constables, attorneys, etc.
A grand jury to indict or acquit need
| not be unanimous. Only twelve votes
are necessary No grand juror or Of
| ficer of the court, if the court shall so
order, shall give out that any indict-
ment has been found against any per
son before he has been arrested.