The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-29
CAUTIONS THE JURY
JUDGE POND CHECKS ATTEMPTS
OF OUTSIDERS TO TAMPER
WITH JURORS.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE MADE.
ST. PAUL MAN ELECTED GRAND
CHIEF OF THE JUNIOR GOOD
TEMPLARS.
DESPONDENCY AND MORPHINE
Cause the UntimeIy Death of George
Overmire-Neyvs of Min
neapOIis.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE MADE.
DEsPoNDENCY AND MORPHINE

The meeting of the grand jury
yesterday morning was short and that
body adjourned to jan 5, after hear
ing one witness in a robbery case, in
order to allow the man to leave the
city on important business.
Before the jury adjourned, however,
Judge Pond invited the members be-
fore him, and delivered a charge
Which was more pointed than the
first one delivered to the jury. The
main thing about the charge was it's
attempt toeIhead off any tampering
with the jury, and it's hints to let the
police department alone for the pres
ent, in order that the work so far as
taken up might be more thoroughly
DONE
After stating that he would not have
another chance to appear before the
body he said:
In this work you should not be embarrassed
by the word or act Of any citizen. 1t Is,
however, currently reported that certain
members of your honorable body have been
and are still being annoyed by persons un-
worthy of the right of citizenship. 1t is all
but inconceivable that a respectable citizen
should at this time dare to exert his in
fuence in behalf of any official with view of
Will do SO is little better than he who Is
charged with the crime and in every such
case you will do well to consider whether
such person is not himself guilty to the ex-
tent of being particeps criminis to the act
These municipal scandals have come to be
such a stencil in the nostrils of every law
abiding citizen that neither grand jury nor
court will permit any trifing with justice
The people have a deep-seated conviction
with every reasonable ground therefor, that
boodlism has for some time past held high
carnival certain of pitV officials
Whether this conviction is based upon fact
or false rumor, is not for this court to say,
but the public welfare demands that you go
! to the very bottom Of these charges Of cor
ruption, even though 1t takes you until the
return of spring time in which to do so. For
the sake of the business community and the
fair name of this city, you cannot afford to
stop short of fearless and thorc'S~h work.
The investigation having been begun let it
be so conscientious and searching that every
act Of official corruption shall be exposed and
guilty men indicted and the cloud Of scandal
lifted from the head of the innocent.
While the irons are hot and ready, let
sledge hammer blows be dealt and this mon
ster of iniquity stalking about the city for
ever crushed. The expense of this investiga-
ton is not for a moment to be considered.
TIE county can well afford to pay 100 times
the amount Of this possible expense, if you
but bring forth results. But, gentlemen, it
is not expected that you will be able to in
vestigate every department of the city gov
eminent where municipal corruption Is
charged. In connection with these city
hall scandals, 1 called your attention to
the charge of corruption against the school
board, and to charges Of interfering with
the administration of justice against one or
two domestic corporations, for two purposes;
first, to emphasize the great Importance of
thoroughly investigating the widespread
charges of Doodle against aldermen, and,
second, to lay out additional work for your
consideration in the event time permitted
you to undertake it. I might well have
pointed out another branch of the citys
service which clearly demands the search
light of a judicial investigation, but appar-
ent want Of time on your part made it
best not to do Justice however de-
mands that all these city officials who have
been so freely charged with corruption
should be promptly exhonerated or convicted.
The public service demands it. The hon
est official is entitled to it. The boodler, by
his braZen effrontery, invites it. But it
seems clear that the entire municipal fabric
cannot be cleansed at this session of the
grand jury. Your successors in office must
take up this most important work where you
leave it. What you undertake to do should
be so thoroughly done that no future grand
jury will have occasion to retrace your steps,
The judge then gave the grand jury
| further instructions regarding their
responsibilities and duties in the In
Vestigation, taking occasion to de-
clare that they should allow no sudden
matters to interfere with the complete
performance Of their work at this ses-
sion: