The herald., 1896-01-22
The Grand Jury Touched Up by
Judge Smith
PERTINENT QUESTIONS PUT
Wants to Know Why the City Officers
Have Not Been Investigated
Foreman Storrs Says That They Have Not
Had Time, and They are Ordered to at
Once Proceed-court Notes

The grand jury was treated to little sur
prise yesterday morning in department one
of the superior court. On several occasions
Judge Smith has called the attention of the
jury to the fact that it was part of their
duty to investigate the books of the city
officials. 1t is not known that there was
any special reason for not doing this duty,
but somehow the jury never got around to
the work. They could fiddle away days at
q time on some trifling indictment that
would not stand in court, and which could
have been better done in ten minutes time
by any magistrate in the county, but some-
how they could never find time for this in
vestigation, which is clearly one of the
functions of the inquisitors.
Judge Smith finally concluded that pa
tience had ceased to be D virtue, and yes
terday ordered the grand jury to return into
court. The inquisitors filed in, headed by
Foreman Storrs, and took their seats, look
ing as though they expected something to
drop, but not knowing where it might fall.
Judge Smith was in no mood for temporz-
ing, and as soon as the jlrymen had dis
posed of themselves about the room, called
out, "Mr. Foreman, are you Investigating
the municipal offices of the city,"
Mr.. Storrs was promptly on his feet
honor" he said, and then went on to tell
how busy the grand jury had been in G ding
over the work of their experts. Mr.. Storrs
mo testify remarked that there never were
nineteen more industrious men on the
business of the county than the present
grand jury, and that all their time had
been fully occupied.
"They have hung on longer than we ex-
pc cted," Concluded Mr.. Storrs, land they
keep continually finding mistakes in things
we have been looking into"
''Any disposition on the part of this
grand jnry to avoid that Investigation"
asked Judge Smith, with an ominous ring
in his voice.
mot the slightest" hastily replied Mr..
Storrs. I'VE will gosinto that branch as
soon as we can get the time"
"Mr' Storrs, have several times sug--
gested THAI this matter be attended to, and
you can have my written opinion if you
want it," said Judge Smith.
1--WE have full confidence in our ex
perts,' said Mr.. Storrs, land we thought
that they could do the work. We have
been hoping to get through every day, but
they have still kept hanging on. We had
hoped. your honor, to get in the last report
today"
well, gentlemen, want you to pro-
ceed at once to investigate the municipal
offices of this city. There is no question
as to it's being your duty-indeed, it is the
oTuer VI tiie court tnie you 10 l.' IHGu is
all, gentlemen" concluded the court, and
the jurymen filed out of the court room.
The grand jury was in session during the
greater part of .he day, but no witnesses
were examined. There was some talk
about Judge Smiths action, and some
speculation as to whether or not His Honor
had heard something definite as to matters
requiring investigation which caused him
to prod up the inquisitors.
The final adjournment of the grand Jury
is not now looked for under two weeks.