The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-07
GRAND JURY REORGANIzED
Judge Banks Opening Charge
Exhaustive and Severe.
BOTH RAPE AND SEDUCTION
Are Given Special Attention and Condemned In
No Uncertain Terms-Mob Law Con-
demned as Akin to Anarchy.

I'm the circuit COURT yesterday Judge
]. ]. Banks reorg'anized the grand jury
which was originally organized on Mo-
vember 6.
His charge was an exceedingly able
one. He gave lucid explanation of the
different offenses under the category of
Crime punishable by The law. and pointed
out the duty of the jury.
In regard to the crime of rape, which
is a capital offense, he said:
81 need scarcely urge the necessity fem
action against this crime. Be it said TO
the honor of mar1hood that no man who
violates the person of a woman cam
hope Ito escape punishment by the law.
But there is one sad error which we fall
into, and that lis in not leaving the pun
iShment to the law instead of commit
ing it into the hands of "a mob.
81 fully appreciate and realize the per-
feet frenzy the commission off rape
throws "a community INFO. 1T arises from
the intense determination men have to
protect woman's virtue against Violent
assault. The feeling is a mobile one, but
the result ignoble. ..5 -
Certainly there Is no higher mark of
our civilization than the universal senti-
ment against the violation of female vir-
tue and in favor of its punishment, but
strong tendency towards its summary
punishment shows how much of the cav
age still remains in mans pature.
CONDEMNS MOB LAW.
'tCivilizatfon accomplislhes almost Moth
ing unless lit results in teaching men a
more perfect obedience to the law.
whenever "a violation is followed by
the inf1iction of punishment by any other
than the civil authorities there is de-
cided license given to anarchy and mis-
rule
st hope tbs tune is close ait hand when
1t win be impossible to organize a mob
for any purpose, no matter what the
provoca tion may be-"
Continuing to the non-capitan felony
cases he said:
REGARDING SEDUCTION.
'It is among The most villainous crimes
in the calendar. Even rape itself scarce
ly exceeds L. lin atroc1ty and does not
equal it in it's evil effects upon So
ciety.
There can be no such thing as social
order without virtuous women, and the
men who by. Establishment and arts that
are born of a satanic influence, dsstr-ly
this safeguard of peoples happiness is
among the mos. desptcable of human
| beings and merits the sternest treat
ment from law.
SOCIETY'S GREAT CURSE.
affection between the sexes. if God
given leads to their legal union and to
their happiness and prosp sr-lty, but
when a man assumes 1T for the
purpose of seduction, he brings
upon society its worse curse and upon
his victim blight compared to which
death would be blessing.
1.-THE world affords no more pitiable
spectacle than a. deserted woman who
has yielded her purity 10 the deceatful
fla. teries of man, and no more loath-
some one than this self-same man who
accomplishes her RUM
"Public sentiment is weak in it's pun
ishment for this crime while it is mer-
ciless in it's condemnation of the one
least deserving of 1T. Let the law at
least place the punishment where it prop
er1y belongs.
THE JURY AT WORK.
The jury then retired ito its delbera-
ton and will be assisted by Circuit
Solicitor Charles w. Ferguson.
The following is the personnel Of the
grand jury:
A. G. Morris, foreman; C.. A. Balm, j.
w. Beasly, R. R. Stobert, G. N. Hamil-
ton E. M. Rich, Mike Duggan, w. r.
Bass. w. j. Yielding, N. N. Hurst, John
l.. Davis, P. M. Vance and A. L. Shar-
ritt.