The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-05
NO CHARGES PREFERRED.
GRAND JURY COMMITTEE ONLY IN
VESTIGATING GENERALLY.

II There Were Specific Charges the
Investigation Into County Affairs
Would Have to lie by the Entire
Grand Jury-The Special Commit
tee VIII simply Report as to
whether or Not There Is Sufficient
Evidence Upon which 10 Found
Charges-Tbe Investigation TO he a
Long One.
An interesting point has been raised
connected with the investigation of county
affairs by the special committee Of the
grand jury which is now in progress. The
question is as to whether such matters
should not be investigated by the entire
grand jury instead of a committee, or as
to the grand jury's right to Investigate by
committee.
According to the law, whenever any
ordinary justice of the peace, county com
missioner or other officer of the county is
charged with malpractice in office or any
thing of that kind, the charge is always
investigated by the entire grand jury.
Tho accused is served with a copy of the
charges and is permitted to have his coun-
sci present at the investigation, as well as
is the prosecutor.
At the investigation now in progress
these same privileges are accorded, the
solicitor general is also present, but no
charges have been drawn up or presented
and the investigation is simply before a
committee
The point was raised that no charges
were furnished the commissioners, the
county attorney Mr.. J. R. Saussy, hold
ing that they should be furnished with a
copy of them, and then that the investiga-
ton should proceed in order as the law
directs, before the entire grand jury.
The reply of the special committee was
that there are no charges against the com
missioners, and that they are simply inves-
lsgatinS the management of county affairs
by the present board. In spite of the fact
that there are no charges, the investlga-
ton has proceeded very much as if there
We're. j would seem from the nature of it
that some quite specific charges We're be-
ing investigated, such as the violation of
the gravel contract, the 6act that one man
was carried on pay roll in two places,
and other matters of a like character.
II appears from this state of affairs, how
ever, that the special committee cannot in
'-0' '~7to charges. It's investigation can
only be general in its scope, and. it can
report only whether there is sufficient
ground for bringing charges for the grand
jury 10 investigate. If in the opinion of
the committee the evidence shows that
there is enough to base charges upon the
grand jury acting upon the committee
report can formulate Them, and then the
investigation viii 80 on before that body.
On the other hand if it does not appear
that there is sufficient evidence. the grand
jury acting upon the report of the commit
Zee can dismiss the matter altogether
In its investigation the committee has
gone back into some of the affairs of the
formU board of which Mr. VIM. Kehoe.
" no brings the charges or makes the com
plant was also a member. Some of the
matters relating to that time into which
the committee has inquired passed through
MI. kehoes hands, and he as a county
commissioner approved them. The same is
saId TO be true of some of the matters re
laung TO the management of the present
board. Ii will thus be seen that the inves-
LEGATION is somewhat of a complicated one.
The opinion is expressed by those most
Interested in the matter that the inVesti
cation will be quite a long one. The one
witness who was examined at the last
meeting was on the stand for almost the
entire time. The committee will NEE
again on Monday afternoon.