Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-18
THE LATEST ALABAMA NEWS Judge Winters Charge to the
 Grand Jury. INVESTIGATE THE LYNCHlNG Several Hundred Witnesses Will Be Examined and Sensational Developments Are
 looked For.
INVESTIGATE THE LYNCHlNG

montgomery, E6D. 1f--NSpeCldi.J- lle Montgomery county grand jury assem- bled today. the occasion being the regu- lar term of the city court of Montgomery county. This was the first sitting in court time of Hon. John G. Winter who was appointed judge last week to succeed the late Judge Arlington. Judge Winter delivered his charge to the grand jury giving them general instructions as to their duties in a straightforward. vigo- rous and we'll rounded style. After the general instructions he called particular attention to the lynching on last Satur- day night and, continuing, said:
 Having given you in a general way instructions in reference to your duties, 6 most serious matter of recent occur renee in our very midst-within sight of our capitol and the hearing of the police bell of this city, and within the police Jurisdiction of this cty-renders it neces- sary for me to especially call your atten- tion. and to instruct you to give it your most careful consideration I allude to the lynching of Robert Williams on the night of the 18th instant. made the more heinous, if possible, by the further fact that this man was taken by the mob from the actual custody of the law, that is, from the officers of the law having him in charge. Mob law or violence can find no sort of excuse or justification in any civilized corntry, and sentiment which tolerates Dangerous to the peace and g6v~- ny commu- nifty in which it exists. Without law we can have no real government, and the community which sanctions mob violence has practically no law, and therefore no government It certainly cannot, 1t must not, be said that we live in such com munity, You have therefore a most sol emn duty to perform, not only to your selves, but to the people of this county; and that duty, 1 charge you, is to bring the parties composing this mobs and the instigators and abettors. to justice. for the oHense Is neither changed nor lessen ed in degree because of the number engag- ed in its perpetration. And to this end I further charge you to exhaust ali lawful means within your power to find out the guilty parties and in every case, where the evidence justifies it, to return true bills against thm. Be actuated in your investigations and conduct by a stern sense Of duty, unSWayed and unbiased by any sentiment or feeling of compassion for any one. Discharge your whole duty in respect to this matter, as in all other cases, without fear or favor, and. if pos sible vindicate the laws of your country. This duty l solemnly enjoin on you as sworn jurors and as good and patriotic citizens, bearing in mind that without your aid the law is impotent and lawless- ness is practically sanctioned and up- held"
 II IS prODdDle that several hundred Wit nesses will be examined in the matter and it is possible that something sensa- tional may be developed. Judge Tyson of the circuit court is being commended on all sides for the promptness with which he ordered out the troops on the z night of the distura nbce. The governor was and still is absent in Philadelphia, and Sheriff Waller was also away from the city at the time of the lynching.
 St. Peters Mission.
 Rev. Fathers O'Connor and Power opened mission in St. Peters church here last night to one of the largest con- gregationS ever gathered in that church. The first sermon of the series, which will last for twelve days. was delivered by Father Powell, whose subject was the .'Soul of Man." As a preacher Father Power is logical and convincing, without being oratorical; forcible, without being fiowery, and highly entertaining. For pn hour he held the closest attention of pronounced to be the best ever delivered An this city. The series of services will Hast until the 26th. and the following is a list of the subjects for future sermons tTuesday; Sin, the Sovereign Evil:'"' Thursday, ''The Eternal Punishment of Sin;" Friday. ''The Confession of Sim Sunday, 'Is One Religion as Good as An other?' Monday Mission of St. John. the Baptist" Tuesday, Danger of De-
 
 sermon on Wednesday, the 26th. Mary, the Mother of God"
 The services are attracting large crowds. a good proportion of the attend ants being non-members of the church. Fathers OConnor and Power are Jesuits and devote themselves entirely to mis- sionary work. They have recently been preaching in the principal cities of the south and have been greeted with inn mense crowds everywhere. They are re- garded as two of rhe most able mem bers of the order of Jesuits in this coun- try.
 The Wreck at Jackson's Lake.
 What came near being serious wreck occurred on the Louisville and Nashville road, just the other side of the bridge, last night-a special mard gras train, running as section 2 of No. 3. Engine No. 54, one of the big new ones, was pull ing the train, with Engineer Bill Brown at the throttle and Frank Everett firing
 The engine struck a COW and jumped the track, falling down 10-foot embank-
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