Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-05-23
COURT PROCEEDINGS
Moving Along SlOwlcy. One Case
Runs Four Days. Many
More On DOckekct.
JUDGE PAGE CHARGES THE JURY.
Reported Specially for the Mes
Sengcr.

The Circuit Court for Worcester
County convened on Monday last will
Judge Page on the Bench. The frs
business transacted was the calling o
the January term and adjourning tn,
same. AT the 2 o'clock session, Judge.
Holland and Lloyd came into Court
having arrived in Snow Hill ON the
noon train. The first thing after tn,
adjOurning of the January term wa.
the drawing OF the grand jury and tn,
selection of their foreman by Judge
Page. The following are the gentle
men drawn on the grand jury, and Mr.
John Sidney Jones, of Pocomoke City,
was made foreman
John 5. Jones, Foreman; George L.
Barnes. John T. Smith, Alma T. Jones
Willard +. Pusey, David G. Evans,
James X. =. West, Archer c. Hollo.
way, Isaac X. Gibbs, VIM. X. Scarbor.
ough, Ephraim Hillman, William T.
Sturgis. VIM. II. Powell, George S.
Hill, Thomas Bowen, John V. Davis,
Isaac III. Jones, Thomas Hales, Stephen
a. Redden. David F. Jones, James A.
Fleming, Sidney a. Rowland, John b.
Richards.
Judge Page, after calling attention
to the Acts of Assembly requiring
certain matters to be given to the Jury,
i'll special charge proceeded: your
first duty will be to consider and dispose
OF the cases OF persons in jail 1t is a
matter OF the greatest importance to
the public that the Jail should be
speedily cleared. 1t is important to
those who are confined, that such as
may be innocent may be speedily dis.
charged and on the other hand, that
those, against whom you find true bills,
may have speedy trial"
The Judge then called attention to
the law of homicide, and briefly ex.
planned its chief features. "Of the cases
awaiting investigation, one, the Court
was informed, has relation to the
obstruction of railroad tracks, by which
cars had been derailed and the lives of
passengers and employees seriously i'm.
periled. This is regarded as a matter
of serious Importance. The public is
profoundly concerned that travel BY
car, so far as Instructions are concerned,
should be absolutely as safe as passage
along the ordinary highway. A single
log placed upon the railroad track
might derail train and cost the lives
Of great many people. 1t behooves
you to give it your most serious and
prompt consideration. Examine it fully
and inquire whether or not an occur
renee of that kind has taken place, and
no matter who it is that may be impli-
Gated, bring him to the bar of justice,
that he may he promptly tried"
Judge Page further said: 81 think
it is perfectly obvious from these re-
marks that your duty must present
itself to you as one of deep Importance.
You are charged with the investigation
of all these matters. II malefactors 90
unwhipped of justice it will he your
fault, and the community will Justly
lay upon you, whatever Of criticism
may be due for the improper escape OF
any who should be required to answer
for their offences. Discharge your
whole duty honestly, conscientiously,
without fear or favor or affection. and
without regard TO the ranks of the
party. You must know neither rank
nor Importance in the community,
significance or insigniticance, but pre-
sent all those who, in your enlightened
ludgn ent, the testimony before you
shall convict.
1t may not he ami-s gentlemen to
say that it takes II of your number to
find a bill, no matter how many are
present, and it must be perfectly oh.
vious that justice would fail in your
hands unless there were preserved on
your part the most vigorous silence as
to what occurs in your room; and this
not only binds you for the present, but
for all time. You must remember
gentlemen that you are under oath, and
that oath binds you TO secrecy now and
forever. If each grand juror bore
upon his arm the record of what was
done in the grand jury room, many
evil results would ensue. You then
would be target for abuse, for i'll will.
hatred and malice. You would he
assailed by persons who had friends
before the jury importuned by others
and practiced upon by the designing.
Whatever comes before you in the dis
charge of your duty, there is nothing
more imperative than that OF absolute
silence about what takes place before
the grand jury. And what you do
you must settle between yourself and
your Maker. You are your own
makers.
don't know whether the matter to
which | now call your attention is Of
public Importance here or not and
what | am going TO say now is only
said out of abundant caution In other
counties great evil has been the
unrestricted and ill.advised summons
ing of witnesses before the grand Jury.
OFTEN times persons who know nothing
of Importance to the public. will gel
somebody TO summon them on the
grand jury. They then have an OPP
portunity to spend a day or so in town
do not know that it is the case in
your county, possibly not.
In other counties the list has grown
until it has become matter of public
reproach and source of great expense.
The remedy for this, if it exists in this
county, is with you. | do not think
that the Clerk ought TO summon any.
body before the grand jury unless he
is directed by the States Attorney oi
the grand jury. And | recommend
COT course you are your own masters J,
! recommend that you pass rule that
all witnesses 10 he summoned by the
grand jury shall he summoned only oi
the request of the foreman or uf the
States Attorney.
do not know, these remarks may
he entirely irrelevant II the evil is
not here now it will come and it i: