The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-16

M, enlber CGeris
The judges OF the county courts have
another long session ahead Of them.
This morning the November term of Oyer
and Terminer General Sessions and Su-
perior Courts opened, and us there is con,
siderable business in the latter two, the
session will keep Chief Justice Lore and
his associate judges, Cullen, Marvil and
Grub on the bench until the first of the
new year,
General Sessions Court has, perhaps, the
most business. There are seventy cases
Of the usual character, larceny, burglary,
murderous assault and carrying concealed
weapons. Beside them there are the election
cases. The Superior Court list is not
much smaller than the criminal docket.
On 1t are many damage suits, as usual,
There will be but one case for Oyer and
Terminer Court. The prisoners Dennis
Dinneen, and the charge against him Is
arson. He lived near Hockessin, where
no is alleged to have burned the home of
q family named Walker.
Court did not begin its work until II
O'Clock. This was occassioned by the fact
that many Of the jurors from the lower
part OF the county did not reach this city
case on the opening day of term however
The jurors are all new with the exception
Of the grand jury, having been drawn
several weeks ngo. The present grand
jury will be released at the February
term.
When court began, the space inside tho
railing was well filled with lawyers. Back
Of them sat many witnesses in whose
cases new feature has been adopted.
Heretofore 1t has been the practice of all
witnesses to enter the court room by
81 al hut
frequently the case that persons other
than those entitled to admission that way.
reached the court room, The result was,
that many persons summoned could not
got into the court room. But hereafter
such will not be the case. When juror
Is summoned he is provided with a badge,
which admits him to the room. Space
In the chairs Is saved for them and when
they have all arrived doorkceper Brinson
removes his barrier and the spectators are
allowed to occupy the remaining chairs.
SHERIFF Finn on DUTY.
There was probably no one in court who
received more warm words and congratu
lations than Sheriff VIM. r Finn. He
assumed tho duties Of the office a. 2 0 clock
and from that time until late this after
noon, congratulations were rolling In up
on him like a mighty food. Every mem
returned his compliments with smile
REPORTERS ARE COMFORTABLE,
The reporters accommodations hav,
been very unhandy at previous terms, bu
now they are comfortable The county
has erected platform east OF the jury
box on which they have perchod The mel
who daily furnish The doings of the cour
to the thousands Of people who do not car,
to attend the sessions. The platform has
been neatly carpeted, and altogether 1t Il
the most comfortable spot in the building
DOOR KEEPERS ARE HAPPY.
To the average man the position of doc
keeper is an easy one, but Messrs. Foot
and Brintun do not think SO. They hav'
big crowds to handle daily and often time
have to take considerable abuse from per
sons whom they cannot admit. Never
theless both gentlemen, always have
smile and are ready to do anything tina
will benefit their fellow men.
GRAND JuRY's CHARGE,
AS soon ms the grand jury was sworn il
Chief Justice Lore delivered the following
charge bearing on the indictments place.
in their hands against the men who ar
alleged to have violated the election laws
Gentlemen of the grand jury, there ar,
times when the violations OF tho law along
particular lines become 50 fragrant tina
public Indignation Is aroused, and tn,
condemnation Of all honest mon evoked
Such Is the condition now upon us.
ut Is openly charged that at the recrn
elections held in this State and county
corruption and fraud prevailed to uI
alarming extent
Tho following are among these charges
That duly qualified electors were uniaw
fully and c"rruptly refused registration
or that their names. were stricken fl on
the registry after they had been duly en-
rolled That the votes of electors Were
openly bought aud sold. That voters
were intimidutud and constrained to vutt
against their convictions. That disorder
and distractions prevailed at some Of the
polling places encouraged by election
officers. That even after the votes were
cast, officers Of the election cUrrupily fail
ed or refused to count aud tabulatc thu
vote fairly That the returns OF th,
election were wilfully and corIuptly al
tered, That by these means Il fair expires
sion of the popular voice wa1 defeated.
These charges, if true demand you
closc,t scrutiny and thorough invrstiga
ticn; that so far Us may be in your powc
you take prompt and etfcCtual means L
suppress tho evil.
Corruption in elections vitality affccU
the continuance of good government
which must depend for healthful exist
Bnce, upon the Intelligence and virtue o.
the voter The man who sell, his vote
and much more the man who buys tina
vote, Is interruptions, corrupt and IN
worthy the privilege Of IL freeman SucI
men should be disfranchised
The lavish and DESIGNATIONS usG q
money ut elections, in buying votes lik
sheep on the shainblos, poisons the yer
sources Of our State and National life
when 1t succeeds in clothing the purchase
with power / il a more heinuu5 crime that
murder, because it rUbs not one man Onl
Of life, but ruDs all the people of tina
which is far moro precious than man
lives-that is, good government and all
carries with it, This special form Of col
ruption at Our elections has been stCndl
growing for years, and Is now so notoriuu
that it has become the reprOacA Of on
commonwealth.
The elective franchise in the hands ,
the pure and patriotic man is the highrs
privilege of American citizenship, bccaus
II clothes him with power to say whl
shall DO the policy Of the government an
who shall carry that policy into execution
1t makes him H responsible factor i'll bull,
Ing up and preserving just governmcr
for all the people. Barterins in vote
either by buying or selling is the most Il,
grading vice Of a freeman, involving rs
does the sale Of his manhood.
WecauuOt too strongly condemn thi
vice, nor TOO vigorously prosecute AN
punish the men who are engaged in thi
nefarious business. We have dwclt thu
long on this phase Of corruption, bocnus
the corruption Of the voter, and the vent
vote, are the beginning of political pu!ll
ton
Every other phase of corruption at OF
elections, should receive your qualillc
c8p5urG.
1t Is the sworn duty of election officer
to soc that every man fairly entitled t
vote has the opportunity 10 cast his hallp
and further to see that such vote is fatrl
counted and duly returned 60 that II
peoples will may be fully and hunestl
Expressed Election officers are the st
wants of the people sworn to do right, Il,
WRONG. to nxrcutr. NOT 10 suhNnrt LII