The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-07
COURT C0UNSELS HARMONY.
JUDGE FALLIGANT-s CHARGE TO
THE GRAND JURY.


and Eloquent Charge in Which
Various Evils Affecting the COM
munity Were Specially Referred
acknowledgements by the Jury.
The charge of Judge Robert Falligant
to the grand jury at the opening of the
March term of the Superior Court yester-
day added another to the number of able
and eloquent charges delivered by him
during his career on the bench. There is
probably no other jurist in the state who
has made so many eloquent and impress
sive charges 90 the juries of his circuit as
has Judge Fa.ligant
Previous to the limiting of the Eastern
judicial circuit to Chatham county, the
charge of Judge Fallgant to the grand
jury was regarded by the people of the
adjoining counties included in the circuit
as the chief event of court week. and the
court houses were always crowded on
these occasions to hear and enjoy the flow
of judicial eloquence. The members OF
the bar who were accustomed to attend
the courts of the other counties of the
circuit agree that on these occasions the
judge was accustomed 10 throw off all con-
straint and often entered into elaborate
discussions of legal and social questions
not necessarily pertaining to the duties of
the grand jury. but which were all the
more enjoyed by his hearers. Judge Fall
ligant has probably delivered as many
charges to grand juries as any judge upon
the Superior Court bench of the state
Until the recent reduction in the circuit
he was called upon to deliver eleven
charges each year or an average of nearly
one a month.
The feature of chief interest in Judge
Fallisants charge to the grand jury yes
terday morning was his allusion to the
friction which seems to have crept in be-
tween the members of the grand iuries
and the County Commissioners. He de-
precated this as unnecessary and harmful
10 the best interests of the county and
urged that spirit of harmony should
exist between these two important bodies.
While the grand jury is given special
charge of the drainage of the county and
1t is the duty of the body to give this
matter the special attention all comment
upon the work of the commissioners, he
said, should be made in a spirit of court
esq and fairness in order that the rela-
lions between the two bodies might be
harmonious. Judge FaHigant said that
ne mad been much pained to see interviews
IN the public prints from members of the
Two bodies in which unpleasant personal
references were made While charging the
members of the grand jury to do their
full duty in all matters relating to the
moral and material welfare of the county.
he trusted that nothing would be said
or done which tend to arouse i'll feeling,
Of wrfA1o
Sunday laws and the sale of LIQUOR to
minors and drunken men, Judge FalH-
CANT laid special stress. These were evils
which demanded their fullest
attention, he said. The men
who violate these laws do so
knowingly and the hard hand of the law
should be laid upon them. The men who
violate the laws pertaining to these SUBJ
jects do so for gain and merit no sym
pathy from those whose duty it is to en-
force the law.
The grand jury was particularly charged
upon the subjects of gambling and carry
ing concealed weapons. Gambling he said
was very seductive vice. 1t is especially
attractive to young men and its results
are anything but good. 1t leads them into
evil associations and takes them away
from all influences that are good and
pure. Judge Falligant said that his only
knowledge of these evils was in what was
brought to light in the court 1t was NOT
the part of the court to play detective
The officers of the law must bring these
matters to the attention of the Jury. and
its duty is to investigate. Any Juror aware
of any violations of the law should bring
the offender before the body in order that
the offense might be investigated.
The grand jury was charged as usual as
TO us duties inspecting the public property
of the county, the jail and the court house
and the chain gang as well. Special stress
was iald upon the necessity for inspecting
the books of the magistrates and looking
carefully into their work. These courts
form an important branch of the denart-
ment of justice. They are quite close TO the
people and may be made oppressive If NOT
carefully looked after. While he knew of
nothing against any of the magistrates AZ
present irregularities had been found in
the past and it had been necessary for the
grand jury to take action.
after the delivery of the charge. the
stahu jury reured and organized by the
election of MIR. George j. Mills as fore
man. OF The thirty-eight Jurors summon
ed, tWenty-three were impaneled to com
pose the grand jury for the present term.
its members being as follows: George 7
Mills foreman; W. ]. Robider Henry M
Stoddard. Marquis l.. Exley. Robert II
Lewis c. Fraser Law. William C. LYON
John O'Gorman. George H. Remshart
Solomon Binswanger,, James L. Morrison
A. j. Ives, Clarence G. Anderson. John
Lynch, William r. McCauley, w. Inman
Miller, Charles A. Cox, w. /. O'Brien. To-
seph B. Chestnut William M. Davant. G.
=. Malone, Frank c. Battey and Chris p.
Gray.
Deputy Sheriff r. F. Higgins was sworn
in as officer After hearing the Judge q
charge, the jury spent about an hour in
session and returned the following indict-
ments:
William Fallon, murder for the killing
of James Mcguire.
William Watson, burglary of the store
of Edward LoyeIs Sons
John CASTOR, burglary, three indlct-
ments.
ReDecca Middleton. larceny from the
house.
Henry Dixon, attempt to commit burg
larry.
jamie Jones. larceny from the house.
The jury was dismissed, subject to the
call of the court.
s-o-s--