The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-07
NOT AN ORIGINATOR OF CASES.
nut SOLICITOR GENERAL SAYS HE
WILL PUSH INDICTMENTS.

MIR. OsbOrne's Position on the Gam
bling QueStiOn-The Law Does No;
Make Him Detective, He Says,
Hut lie VIII Press the Punishme
of All Indicted or Presented Of
tenders to the Rest Of His Ability.
His Duties. He says, Have Been
misunderstood.
Solicitor General W. W. Osborne return
ed TO Savannah yesterday OF the City Of
Macon. Fer more than Two months he
has been away from Savannah and in
pursuit. at Northern resorts, of the health
he al one time seemed to be losing. He
returned. as De says himself. in the very
pink Of condition, ana his appearance
bears out the statement TO the letter. He
never looked better.
During the afternoon the solicitor gen
eral was seen by "a representative Of the
Morning News as to the gambling ques-
ton, which has recently asitated The city
and county. aud has been the subject Of
press and pulpit comment for the last two
months. There was 10 hesitation.
MY position is simply this said the so
lcilor. "I DO not occupy he situation Of a
detcc i've, nor am I r CURED 10 hise any
one else 10 GO that work. I DO not origi-
nate indictments, nor do I make cases. My
legal obligation begins when The case is on
the docket Of the court, when the grand
jury has turned IL aud the prisoner over 10
me. The orjs Vii bear me Out Ia tne
assert ton thai whenever case has reach
gfn ] have fntJfi4 1lE done
fun duly. ! have demanded an early trial
AMI have accepted a continuance only
when the court decided that a Legal show
.ng had D e II made by The attorn Us Tor the
defendant The dgckcts have been kept
nearer free from untred eases than has
ever been the case n he past and no one
can say that / ever delayed OF retarded a
trial wien The interests Of justice OF Tie
provisions Of the law either demanded or
permi ted it.
II am a prosecuting officer purely and
simply. The grand jures are invested
with all needed power TO bring offenders
against the laws before the courts and m
every case Of this character. have never
hesitated in my efforts TO see that the
laws are enforced. This has been my con-
sistent course in the past, and il Will be
my consistent course in the future.
shah follow it irrespective of public clamor
and when I have done his / feel l have
done my fun duty"
How about the pulpit discussions OF
these questions?" Mr.. Osborne was asked.
Il have nothing to say" was the an
swer, other than that some of these clcr-
icai gentlemen have done me an tnjus-
tice. in ascrib ng to me the continuance
of any particular evil. ! ON willing to
prosecute gamblers brought before the
court by indictment or prssentment Of
the grand jury. with the same disinterest-
ed zeal with which ] have cndeaVored in
the past 90 prosecute these and other Of
tenders against the laws. IL is not my
duty to originate Indictments and should
l undertake il, I would have on my hands
more than I could possibly hope to &c
ccmplish. If proof is as close to hand as
has been stated, and / have no doubt this
is the case. il ought to be easy 10 con-
vince any grand jury that an indictment
against a particular person ought TO be
found If his should be done, l vii.
guarantee to do the rest"
"The agitation has not annoyed me at
all" said the solicitor general so far
as ] have been able TO see. the articles
on the subject that have appeared in the
Morning News. which has been the only
local paper / have seen or read since my
absence from Abe city. have been perfectly
fair and just. and this is all that / wanted
or asked. There have, of course, been crit
icsms on my course from outside sources
that have not been fair. but l forgive
them. / am a public official, and l do
not shun criticism. though l prefer i
made with some previous knowledge of
the law and the facts.
This is about all / have TO say for the
present. As developments occur, ] may
change my mind and have something more
definite TO make public. but so far as
now see this / have said states my DO
sltion with sufficient clearness and prec.s-
ion ] have done my fun duty in che past
/ stand ready 10 do my fun duty in the
future, and this is the whole thing in a
nutshell"
All day Mr. Osborne was besieged by
callers from every political faction in the
city, who offered their welcomes upon
his return home In such greatly improved
health. The more prominent OF the poll
ticians were numbered among these call
ers and from the ranks of the Citizens
Club went up a sigh of general relief at
the return TO Savannah of him who they
count as their leader and defender As the
Macon came % the river the bell at fire
headquarters sounded welcome.
Nor We're the lesser liehts of Doliticg.
nor even those who are wont to play no
political part, absent from the ievee that
the returning solicitor held &c his office.
The reports of his condi ion thar had
reached the city had been oftimes
grossly exaggerated, and many We're ex-
pectng TO see a ghastly and ghost.y re-
production Of the former Mr.. Osborne.
They were agree3by disappointed, for he
never appeared to be in better or soundcr
health. more alive to his work or in keen
er or livelier spirits"
--s-1os-o