The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-28
JUDGE COULD NOT THINK 1T.
DID NOT BELIEVE GRAND JURORS
WOULD DISCUSS JURY SECRETS.

imprisonment, Instead of Fines,
as the Proper Remedy-Judge Fall
IigaRt Explained His own Com
ceptiOn of the Right Course to Fol-
low.
The June term of the Superior Court was
adjourned at o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Preliminary TO the adjournment for the
term the grand jury submitted its general
presentments, and its members were dis
charged with the thanks of the court. In
discharging the jury Judge Falligant made
some spicy illusions to the rumored
| course Of some of its members in regard
to the agitation for the suppression of
gambling.
The grand jury had been called to meet
at o'clock, and a few minutes after that
hour Judge Fallisant ascended to his seat
on the bench and the roll was called.
Foreman Francis D. BloOdworth and sew
| enteen members of the grand jury answer
ed TO the call of their names. The
jury retired, and after a few minutes of
consultation returned to the court room
and announced that it was ready to
deliver its general presentments. With
read by Foreman Bloodworth The pre-
sentiments are addressed TO Judge Falli-
giant, and, after reciting their nature and
purpose, continue as follows:
THE financial statement of the county
treasurer and the list of Confederate pen
sions Were carefully examined by COM
mittees from this body. The former was
found correct and those whose names APP
pear on the latter were found to be entitled
to pensions. The usual examination OF
the records Of the county officers and the
condition of the schools, roads, bridges.
etc, has not been made by us. The duty
had been SO recently performed by our
predecessors that, under your honors in
structions we felt warranted in emitting
II. The affairs of the county are so care
fully looked after by our efficient Board
of County Commissioners as TO render fire.
quent examinations by grand juries unnec-
| essary.
I'm the eloquent and abe charge deliv-
cred to us by your honor at the commence
ment of our term of service no matter was
more urgently brought to our attention
than violations of the laws against gam
ling. A special committee was appointed
| to investigate and report on the subject
1t was found that gambling was openly
| carried on in the very heart of the city OF
! Savannah Long immunity from punish
ment or interference of any kind had so
! emboldened these violators of the law that
/ they made little or no pretense of secrecy
Many indictments were found, and some
of them against persons heretofore repeat
| eddy convicted and fined for the same Of
| tense.
THE grand jury became impressed with
| the conviction that filming gamblers had
! but little effect and that they ought to be
| imprisoned when convicted. A resolution
to this effect was adopted, and the sen
ator from this district and the representa-
| tives from Chatham county were request
| ed TO prepare and introduce a bill requlr-
| ing judges to imprison convicted gamblers.
| If such law should be enacted some other
| provision would have to be made to COM
| pensate those officers whose fees are large
| ly obtained from costs in gambling cases.
| THE crusade against gambling by some
| of the clergy and the order to the police,
issued by The municipal authorities, which
| we heartily commend, have, we learn, re-
~sulted in some diminution of this crime
| At all events gamblers have been compel
ed, for the time being at least, to carry on
| their trade in hiding"
! The presentments were signed by the
| foreman and by all the members Of the
grand jury. There was no dissenting
presentment or report by a minority.
which the disagreement among it's mem
bers of the grand jury as TO some of The
matters that had come before it. reports
of which had found credence throughout
the city, had led a number Of persons to
| expect. It is evident from the brevity of
the presenAments that there had been
| some curtaiment of the features thew
might otherwise include, to the end that
as submitted to the court they might
| have the approval of every member of
the grand jury.
II thank you, gentlemen of the grand
jury said Judge Falligant, for your
| valuable services to the court and to the
people of this county and 1 give you the
thanks of the county with my own. TIE
| legislation suggested in your present.
ments, if 1t be enacted into law, viii. 1
| hope, result in the conservation of the
best interests of the state and county and
| in even more vigorous enforcement Of the
| penal statutes"
you will understand that there have
been and are real and honest differences
| Of opinion on this subject OF the punish
ment Of gamblers and the enforcement of
the laws regulating gaming. But l win
say this for the Solicitor General, thai
during the incumbency Of the gentleman
who now holds that position, the law la
respect TO gaming has been more vigor-
ously enforced than has ever been the
case in the past. More Strenuous efforts
have been made TO punish the vio,ators of
the law, consistent, determined and unre-
hitting efforts, than has been the case
in the past, with the exception Of one
single spasmodic instance, when the play
erS as We'll as the keepers OF the gambling
houses were arrested, indicted and fined"
1T may be that the recommendation
you have made as to the substitution of
imprisonment for fines for the punishment
of gamblers contains the solution, or par
tial solution, of the problem. II such a
law is passed by the Legislature, It will
be vigorously enforced in this court. But.
though you have asked our Representatives
in the general assembly TO introduce such
n bill requiring imprisonment instead OF
fine, upon conviction for gambling, l. have
had no inumation whatever that the bill
has actually been introduced"
Il am satisfied" Judge Falligant contin-
ued, that those of the clergy and others.
who have taken part in the crusade for
the suppression of gambling have been
honest IN all they have said and done.
In my Judgment, though, the police force
Of the city with 100 men, IS more compe-
tent to undertake this task, with more as
surance of success, than any other Off
cial or officials. If there be not enough
/ fhOrify In the ppliCa force for the fAronar