The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-07
NO INDICTMENTS RETURNED.
THE Federal GRAND JURY HELD
No SESSIONS YESTERDAY.

NO SESSIONS YESTERDAY.
Indictments Have Not Been Present.
ed to the Court. Though 1t Is POssi-
bic That the Grand Jury Has De-
tcrmined whether or Not They
VIII Be Brought Against Some
Of the Observation-Disclosures Are
Only Presented i'm Open Court.
Several of the witnesses Called
From other cities Are sdII Here
Mt the Instance of the District At
tOrney.
The grand jury of the United States Dis
trict Court was not IN session yesterday.
For some reason, known to the Of
dcers of the court Immediately interested
in the investigation and to the members of
the grand jury ITSELF no witnesses were
examined and nothing was done. The jury
will reconvene at 9 o clock this morning.
It may be that the grand jury has found
some of the indictments that have been in
contemplation, but it is certain that none
Of these has been presented to the court.
The procedure In such cases always and
invariably is to have the indictments pre-
sented in open court, with all appropriate
and fitting ceremony. Previous 10 the pre-
sentiment OF the indictments Of the grand
jury. the roll is called and each member
answers to his name. If the requisite
number are not present, the presentments
cannot be made at that session of the
court.
When the roll has been called and the
foreman of the jury has announced that
there are presentments of indictments to |
be made, they are handed to the marshal
and by him TO the clerk. Even then it
does not follow that they are made pubic, |
for the rule observed in the United States |
Court is that nothing shall be known of
the finding of the indictments or of the /
persons against whom they are brought /
until these latter have been arrested and /
either lodged in Jail or given bond for their
appearance before the court, at the time
set for the trial But the indictments |
are never handed privately to the judge |
or to anyone else.
1t is scarcely likely that the grand jury |
has deliberaied at all as to the finding of |
indictments, for IL had witnesses before |
It ala Of Tuesday morning ard after |
noon, end did rot have time 10 do much |
celebrating even had II so desired. The |
further reason to believe that no iudict- /
ments have yet been found Is that several /
of the witnesses for the government, in /
Guiding Mr. John b. Mccarthy. who has |
so many Of the papers Of The war d, TT
ment in his poss ssion, ready f-r submls-
sion to the grand jury, have lever been /
called and are sim he'd in the city by d. |
rectop Of the District Attorney. 70 is hard |
~ likely that the grand jury VIII bring
in its indictments without having heard .
the evidence OF these important witnesses. /
Others Of the wi nesses, nc .uding some .
of these who have already Appeared be-
fore the grand jury, are still he'd IN tho
city, and it is patent that this is ala with
purpose. The prosecuting attorney would
not keep these gent emen here, at The ex-
pense and ire large expense of the go ern-
ment unless he had real need for the evil
dence they have to offer.
The PROBABILITY is that the evidence to
support the char ges aga nst the more prom
inent and important Of The alleged con-
sprators is already In and that the MEM
btrs of the grand jury have aflealy made
up their minds whether they YOU j indict /
them or not. They may, inde d, have taken
vote on the question. When the grand
jury again convenes it will probably be to
Investigate the charges against he par
es to the alleged conspiracy that are not
so well known but who have been freely
accused of being concerned in its opera
tons and of sharing IN It's profits
The opinion has always been prevalent
that 50 far as those said to be the prin-
clpals, with the exception of Carter, In the
conspiracy so, there was little use to go
into an extensive investigation of the
charges before the grand jury. The jury
Is not trial court and the evidence is
all from one side. The proceeding is
purely ex-parte. But as to the others
against whom it has been asserted that
indictments would be brought, there is
less room for doubt as 10 the quantum of
evidence sufficient to make out a prima
facia case before the grand jury There
fore 1t probably is that so many witnesses
nave been called and that so many elab-
crate attempts have been made to bring
out the whole truth. 1t is suggested and
believed that this additional evidence, nee
essary to secure the indictment of those
minor officials of the Atlantic Contracting
Company and employees of the Office of the
army engineer for this district and 9TH
ers. vii be offered to the grand jury to-
day.
A bit Of -ssip is going the rounds to the
effect that MIR. NJ. A. Connany, who was
once the confidential clerk of Capt Carter,
and who was prominently mentioned.
though never presented, as an imporl ant
witness for the defense In the courtmar-
tai, is now in Cuba.