The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-13
GRAND JURY DISCHARGED.
WITH JUDGE SPEER's THANKS FOR
DUTY FAITHFULLY PERFORMED.

DUTY FAITHFULLY PERFORMED.
The Last Bundle of Indictments for
the Term Returned-That Against
the Alleged COnspfratOrs with J
II. Hammond, the Most Interesting
and ImpOrtnnt-Six Illicit DistII-
Iers Presented to the COurt-First
and Memorable Session of Grand
Jury in New BuiIding Thus
Brought TO a CIOse-Grnnd Jurors
Returned to Their Homes.
The grand jury of the United States Dis
trict Court was discharged by Judge Speer
for the term yesterday afternoon. In
discharging the jurors the court compli-
mented them upon the manner in which
they had played their part and upon their
demonstrated fitness for the responsible
ties that had been confded to them.
The jury brought in last package Of
indictments, twelve in number, when it
entered the court room. with the excep-
ton of the Hammond conspiracy case,
they were of little interest or Importance,
being principally for violations of the laws
of liquor. Some other indictments were
returned for the offenses of larceny.
When the indictments had been handed
to the clerk by the district attorney,
Judge Speer inquired of Mr. Erwin If
there remained any other criminal bust
ness that he wished to submit to the grand
Jury before its discharge for the term
MIR. Erwin answered that there was not,
-.ff he ann
he wished to express to the members OF
that body and to the court something of
the appreciation he entertained of their
diligence In the transaction of business
their indefatigable industry and their
faithfulness to their trust. Much business
had been done, but the grand jury had
answered every call for their attendance
upon the sessions with a cheerful disre-
gard of their own comfort and convenience
that had equalled their fidelity and their
courage.
In discharging the grand jurors, Judge
Speer said:
I'm taking leave of you, trust that I
will be pardoned for expressing my cor
dial appreciation of the searching and
wholly resolute and fearless manner IN
which you have conducted the inVestiga-
tons with which you were charged In
the observations submitted by the court
in the opening of the session high sense
of the responsibility you would bear to-
ward the public was indicated as essential
TO duty on your part You have clearly
evinced that you are thus animated, thus
moved, and accordingly hove your duties
been performed
''Without meaning to intimate anything
with regard to the guilt or innocence Of
those accused by you, so far as your du-
ties have gone your action has tttingly
consecrated this noble temple for Justice.
when the great struggle for English
liberty in the seventeenth century was
about to begin, Cromwell wrote to Hamp-
den, in substance: Our reliance must be
not upon the worthless members of soci-
ETY., broken-down, serving-men anu de-
cayed tapsters, but upon decent, God-fear-
ing men, These will save our liberties
From this latter class was organized that
intrepid body of soldiers, Cromwelis Iron
sides, whose backs in the language of
Macaulay, no foeman had ever seem
From the same class the jurors charged
in these courts with the preservation of
the liberties and laws of this people are
anxlously and carefully selected, and your
action, gentlemen, has demonstrated the
wisdom of those laws which permit that
selection. Again thanking you and wish
ing you the full enjoyment of that happi-
ness and public esteem which come from
the consciousness of duty well performed
you are now discharged for the term"
Besides the indictments in the HAM
mond conspiracy case already alluded to,
the grand jury charged George Higgins
with the larceny of a registered package
from postoffice in the vicinity of Way
cross. Higgins was arrested and taken
before Commissioner Hargrove. to whom
he made full confession. The greater
part of the money the stolen package had
contained, $65 of the original SIS, was re-
covered. Henry Muldrow was indicted for
the offense of having in his possession
and attempting to pass a counterfeit silver
dollar.
Fred Powers, who stole a wheel from
Janitor Charles Welte of the custom
house, was also indicted. Powers has
made full confession and announced his
Willingness to plead guilty to the charge
whenever he is brought before the court
and permitted to do so. There were be-
sides, six indictments for Illicit listilling
The discharge of the grand Jury brings
TO close one of the most eventful ses-
sions of any like body that has ever been
held in Savannah. Many men, high in
the public esteem, have been indicted for
grave offenses. and their trials, probably
VIII pass into legal history II was The
nrst session of a grand jury held in the
new public building and was notable on
this account also. SO far as the grand
Jurors discharge of duty is concerned II
is as Judge Speer said: Your action has
httngly consecrated this noble temple
of justice" Most of the members of fbe
grand jury returned to their homes last
night, though some few remained over I'M
III to-day to transact business in the citv
No one of the entire number is a resi-
dent of Savannah. ,