The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-20
Over One Hundred and
Forty Cases Submitted.
JUDGE WILBUR'S CHARGE.
Members Oithe Panel Are Instructed
as TO Secrecy.
THE CASE OF RUTH PHILLIPS.

The Common Pleas Division of the
Supreme Court resumed its sessions this
morning after the long vacation. Tho
most Important matter In the court was
the empaneling of the grand jury.
The parties drawn Tor service from the
different cities anu towns in the county
were duly examined as TO their qualiflca-
tions by Attorney General Willard Is.
Ianper who, at tho conclusion OF tho
charge of presiding justice, repaired TO tho
grand jury room with the members of
the jury.
The jury will have pretty busy time
of 10, fer the number Of cases To be con
sldered Is very large one and somo are
for very serious otfenses. The one case
in which murder is charged Is that of
Ruth Phillips. who attempted TO destroy
the body OF her illegitimate child few
weeks ago ani whose death she is alleged
to TO responsible for.
There nre an unusually large number of
parties who are awaiting the action Of tho
jury OH the complaints against them for
assaults with dangerous weapons, and
attacks upon property by thieves who
have been held for breaking and entering
have not been few.
The grand jury empGneled on the third
Monday of September OF each year is
generally larger than at any of the other
three grand juries empaDeled during the
year. The reason for this il that there is
about three weeks more time for too
commission CT otfenses between the Juno
and September juries and these oppor
tuuities seem to have been greatly i'm
proved this year
THE GRAND JURY.
The following gentlemen were duly en-
paneled as the grand Inquest of the
county:
William NJ. Cotton. of Providence;
James O'Malley OF Providence; John NJ
Rounds. Jr... of Providence; John Tur-
ner OF Providence; Gustayo Anderson Of
East Providence; Herman .Iache of North
Providence; Charles o. Bennett, Grams
ton; James a. Potter OF Johnston;
Thomas ). Hogan. Pawtucket; Samuel l..
Weaver, Lincoln: James Kimball, of
Cumberland; Atwell Savles, Smithfeld;
Miles Frayne North Smithield; Fred r.
Harris. Woonsocket; Andrew Backmar,
Scituate; William III. Phillips. Foster;
John II. White, Burrillville; Jason "A.
Ballou, Glocester.
John Turner of Providence was ap.
pointed by Judge Wilbur as foreman
Tho number OF jurors IL will be seen Is
but il. smaller number than it has
been customary to have empaneIed... or ut
least than has been the custom for some.
thing over year. For many years the
mum Der OF men on grand jury was
fifteen, then the number was increased TO
% and now IL has beer reduced To almost
the old time number.
JURORS WARNED.
Judge Wilbur began the customary ad-
dress to the jurors with warning to them
To regard tho secrecy the law imposes
upon the discussion of matters in the Jury
room and then explain I'd the manner in
which the several cases submitted by the
attorney general should be treated and
the importance OF tho work the mem bers
were TO be engaged in.
There were 40 odd cases submitted to
the jury and Judge Wilbur commented
on the large number, and also dwelt on
tho difficulties at the present time in
dealing with the criminal classes. He
was particularly severe when referring TO
the large mum ber of nuisance cases and
the cases in which assaults with danger
Gus weapons were charged.
CASES SUBMITTED.
The cases submitted were divided as
follows: Liquor selling by druggists, 4 !;
liquor selling by druggists clerks, 2;
liquor nuisances, 30; liquor nuisances
and houses of ill-famo combined 3; keep
ing houses of ill-fame, TO- larceny. 90
assault. 9; assault with dangerous
weapons. 81; embo2ZlemeDt, D; adultery,
3; perjury, / placing bricks on railroad
tracks, {; ; murder, /; forgery and utter
ing, /; obstruoting an officer, 2; break ing
and entering, 81.
Ii is believed that tine Jury will be in
ession for at least two weeks.