Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-28
DO|NGS OF THE TRIBUNALS
Criminal Court Grand Jury CON-
pletes Its Work.
THE UNITED STATES COURT
Disposing of an Unusual Amount of Business
One Nan lmpersonates an Officer
and Gets in Trouble.

pleted Its laborS for the fall term yes
terday afternoon, and handed the follow
ing report to Judge S. e. Greene, of the
criminal court,
To Hon. s. e. Greene, Judge of the Grim
inal Court of Jefferson County:
Since making a partial report to your
honor on the 10Th day of September.
1896, we reassembel on the 9th day of
November, and have doeketed at our adj
journed term 154 cases and have found
127 true bills the great majority of which
are for felonies, most of the felonies,
however, being for offenses of light
character. We have docketed al this
term $40 cases altogether and we have
turned into court 239 indictments.
We have examined the bonds of the
county officials and find them safe and
sufficient.
The records of the various courts and
Officers are well and correctly kept.
We have also examined into the condi-
ton of the county Jail and the welfare of
the prisoners, and find the jail we'll kept
and the prisoners well fed with an
abundance of wholesome food
The inferior criminal court of Birning-
ham, by reason of it's exercising exclus-
i've jurisdiction of all misdemeanors in
precincts 81 and 81, the two city pre-
cincts seriously embarrasses the pre-
vention of crime and the administration
of justice The grand jury cannot un-
der the existing law, investigate any
misdemeanors alleged to have been COM
mitted in these precincts. Such offenses
as gaming and violation of the Sunday
laws can rarely be detected except
through an investigation by the grand
jury. Another objection to the enlarge
ment of the jurisdiction of the inferior
court is that a preliminary trial and COM
mitment by the judge of that court in
some cases bars conviction in the GRIM
inal court of misdemeanor indicted in
the necessary charge of felony. Our ex-
animation of the operation of the en-
larged jurisdiction convinces us that the
city's court and the trial of charges of
violation of the city's ordinances should
be kept entirely distinct from the court
of the county and state, and the trial Of
charges of violating the laws of the
state. In the matter We follow the rec
concentrations of previous grand juries
of this court
We take this general method of saying
to justices of the peace that it is bad
practice, not authorized by law, to dis
miss prosecutions on payment of costs,
more especially in cases in which they
have no final jurisdiction, or to make any
order other than an acquital or convic-
tion. Where cases are thus dismissed, it
is knowingly done, and the legitimate
conclusion is that 1t is corruptly done,
which is an improbable offense under
the laws of the state. In misdemeanorS
in which the justice has no final jurisdic-
ton, let them follow the law and make
the case returnable to- the criminal court,
and thereby save expense and trouble to
themselves and others, and take tempta-
ton cut of the way.
In this connection we desire to say that
1t is the duty of justices to docket all
cases in which the defendant has been
apprehended.
gestions we request our delegation in the
legislature to pass law making 1t an
offense for justice to knowingly exceed
his jurisdiction, to corruptly dismiss a.
case on payment of costs, and also to
make 1t an offense for justice to wilful-
ly, knowingly or corruptly fail to docket
causes in which the defendant has been
arrested.
We deem it pleasure to compliment
the sheriff and his deputies on the eff
cient manner in which they have further
ed our business at the present term. We
cannot make this compliment stronger
than to say that the service of process
has been well nigh perfect.
All of which is most respectfully sub
united. HENRY SIMPSON,
Foreman.
After the reading of the report was con-
cuied the Judge thanked the gentlemen
comprising the grand jury and dismissed
them.
TRUE BILLS RETURNED.
The following true bills against parties
in Jail or on bond were returned by the
grand jury:
Murder in First Degree-George Hans
berger.
Burglary and Grand Larceny-Richard
Kinnebrew, Ed Holsteln, Richard Nor
gan, Alfred Chapman, Armstrong AS
berry.
Robbery-Phil Dawson and Albert Rob-
erts, Monroe Smith.
Receiving Stolen Property-A J. Nor
TS.
Assault to Murder-Enoch Canterbury.
Grand Larceny-Ed Weston, Gibson
Murray, Jim Brown, Charlie Johnson son;
nov nd RnhprtG
Scott, Judge Luckie, Dave Perry, Char
ley johnson. Tom Nelms, Pat Murphy.
False Pretense-G. A. Dean
Petty Larceny-Ed Black. s.
Larceny From Store-Tom Smith.
Assault to Rob-Burwell Graham.
George Hansberger. charged with MUIR
Ger in the first degree, will have to an
swer for the death Of Willie Steegal, a
negress who was killed In the basement
of the residence of Judge j. j. Banks,
on West Twentieth street some time ago,
Nan account of which appeared in these
columns at the time.
Kinnebrew and Holstein, against whom
indictments were found for burglary and
grand larceny, are white and neither is
Dawson and Roberts are negroes and
the indictments against them are for
holding up and robbing people within the
city.
UNITED STATES COURT.
business Is DelllS inexperienced With q
rush In the United States court and ev-
eryone connected Herewith is being kept
busv Judge Boarman realizes that there
&c a large amount of work to be disposed
Of and IS moving things accordingly. The
following business was disposed OF yes
John Roden, retailing liquor without
q license; jury and verdict of not guilty.
Will Jackson, retailing, plea OF guilty;
remanded
r.
verdict Of not guilty.
Will Bell, Illicit distillery; nolle pross-
ed.
John Berryhill, retailing, plea OF guilty;
reuanded
William Strange, ST., Illicit distilling;
jury and verdict of not guilty.
N. E. Stoddard F, retailing plea OF gull
ty and remanded.
Joshua T. Noogin. Illicit distilling; de-
murrer Of plaintiff on plea of former &C
ouittal argued and submitted and taken
under advisement by the court.
Robert Kirk, retailing; dismissed.
Joe Cameron, retailing: jury and YER
dict of not guilty.