The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-21
Statement Was Made to the
Grand Jury Today.
Number of Cases That Await Action
Of That Body Is 100.
Two Cases Of -Maroney
Libel Case 10 Be Tried Next Week.


OF much activity this n crning, due to the.
reassem bling of the COZ On pleas divi-
sion OF the Supreme Cour., after the long
vacation. The deputy sneriffs looked pref
tier than ever In their handsome new
uniforms and caps. Court Crier James r.
Munroe, made the usual announcements
and warned everybody TO keep quiet and
to the sheriffs to make their returns In
accordance..wi law. Ii Is now long time
since genial Mr.. Munroe irst opened court.
Judge Wilbur Immediately ordered the
clerk to call the grand jury and the ques-
tioning of the 22 freemen summoned from
the different towns and cities of the
country was begun by Attorney General
Il. q. Dubois. Tho grand jury as em'
panneled consisted of the following per-
sons :Charles e. Giles, Providence; Alfred
q. PIERCE, Providence; Michael j. Hasson,
Providence Caleb Hall, Providence; James
Swan, Jr., Providence; Edward M.Arnold,
Pawtucket: Patrick Campbell, Pawtucket;
John Creighton woonsocket; Pierre Se-
mccall, North Providence; Fred Ii. Gray,
Crapston; Elwood +. Sweet, Foster;
Nehemiah l.. Atwood Johnston; Arthur
Gleason, Central Falls; Alvin r. Farnum,
smithaeld: Alfred III. Lees, Burrillville;
Sidney II. winsor, Giocester; John Dex-
ter, Lincoln; James II. Conley, Cum ber-
land; Edward Maroney, North Smith
field; Charles II. Randall, ,S.ctuate; james
Snow Jr. was appointed foreman.
The mum Der of cases that the grand
jury will have to consider is Ito and
Judge Wilbur said it was marvellous that
in the little county OF Providence there
should have been 100 crimes committed
of sufficient importance to hold the vio-
lators of the law for the action Of the
grand jury within the last three months.
His honor said he did not know who was
to blame for this large increase of crime.
"Perhaps," saio his honor, 81 am to
blame for it, as it Is very difficult
problem to meet out the suita bic pun ish-
ment in every case. severe punishment
many at times ruin an individual and
slight one create disrespect for the law.
In some states murder is punished by
hanging, but 1 don't know that more OF
those crimes are committed IN our state
where the punishment is imprisonment for
life. am in favor of hanging for the crime
of murder" Some further remarks were
made by Judge Wilbur on the increase Of
crime ana then he took up the list OF
crimes that mem bers of the grand jury
would have to consider and explained
them.
The list was as follows: Manslaughter,
2; robbery, 2; breaking and entering,
81; entering day time and larceny, Z;
larceny, n; larceny from the person 8;
assaults with dangerous weapons 20: as
sault and battery o; common nuisance,
&c. falsely representing another, 3;
forgery, 2; unlswfully and carnally know
ing a girl under l6 years of age, L; embtz-
element, 3; exposure OF person,2; receiving
stolen goods, 1; keeping pool room and
selling pools contrary To law, l eacn;
malicious mischief, 1; selling by short
measured; burning a building I, keeping
a victuelling house without license, ].
There are also i've or six other cases
that have been recently brought 10 tho
attention OF the attorney-genera's de-
pariment, but which II did not ys2em
advisable to refer to until thes hsd
more carefully considered.
At the conclusion of the explanation OF
the crimes above named, Judge Wilbur
urged the mem bers OF the jury to work ns
rapidly as possible, as the number of
trials which would probably follow The
indictments found by them would re-
quire nearly alithe courts timc until
the first Mcndsy In December, wien sn-
other grand Jury will be empsnsf0u- fne
members were all csutfouei TO regard
their oaths OF secrecy. The jury then
retired to It's room and Immediately be-
gan its work.
The two cases in which msDsisugh'er
Is charged are against Wesley ~. bmith
and Edward Lupton. The former while
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