The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-17
TRIALS.
Superior Criminal
Court
FORMALLY OPENED.
Judge Gaskill Addresses
the Grand Jurors.

The grand jury for the present year
organized yesterday morning at 10
O'Clock, upon the formal opening of
the January criminal term of the SUI
perior court.
The present term is the first of Gen.
lockwood Hoar as district attorney,
and following the calling the names
of the jurors and the administration
of the oath, the clerk, Major William
I. Harlow. was instructed to make for
NAL record of the election Of Gen. Hoar
and the appointment of George S. Taft
as assistant district attorney
Gen, Hoar had previously been as
sistant district attorney when Col. w.
S. B. Hopkins held the Office and the
duties come most natural and congen-
ial to him.
The full list of grand Jurors for the
present year is as follows:
Daniel w. Burt, Worcester War
rem H.Bryant, Princeton; Gardner M.
Dean, Oakham; Edward f. Delan-
ey, Brookfield; William Fitzpatrick,
Hardwick; Otis A. Gates, Worces-
ter; B. Edwin Guy, Worcester; Pat
rick J. Hanratty, Worcester; Her
bert L. Hapgood, Athol: Sylvester
A. Koran, Worcester; George e.
Kendall, Sterling; Arthur McMa-
hon, Worcester; Cornelius ]. Mack,
Northboro; William j. Madaus,
Worcester; Baxter Moore, Dudley;
Daniel Butnam, Templeton; Ell
bridge G. Stanley, Fitchburg; Ell,
bridge G. Snow, Fitchburg; William
w. Sterling, Westminster. Cornell
ius Sweeney, Milford; WILDER IT.
Iisdale, Leominster; Wilmarth A.
Westcott Hopedale; Charles A.
Whipple, Douglas.
The jury subsequently organized with
the election of B. Edwin Guy of this
city as foreman and Otis A. Gates Of
this city as clerk. Judge Gaskill, In
giving his instructions to the jury, gave
very interesting account of the his
tory and intents Of the jury system,
and the jurors listened with great at
tention.
Judge Gaskill told the grand jurors
that they represented a system which
had been in force for over a thousand
years. The grand jury is an honora-
bic and extremely important body, he
continued. Grand jurors have in their
hands the liberty of their fellow be-
irgs. 1t is unique in its character and
procedure; having secret sessions to
which the public are not admitted,
never making known that they have
found an indictment against a man not
under arrest. They must be satisfied
with the guilt of the party whose case
is under consideration, beyond a rea-
sonable doubt, before they shall return
an indictment. They are to act with
out fear or favor, and to indict a sus-
pected party, at least twelve of the
jurors must agree upon the facts.
At the close of the instructions by
the court the grand jury Immediately
began the consideration of the cases
before them in the equity room Of the
court house, where the grand Jury will
hold all of it's deliberations.
Although Judge GaskiH instructed
the grand jury on its duties, Judge
Hopkins will be the presiding Justice.
During the day 13 cases were heard a
majority of which were Worcester
cases. and in which the Worcester 20
lice officers were witnesses. The total
number is IS, which may be increased
later.
Among the more important cases is
that Of William Woods of this CITY.
who has beer charged with manslaugh-
ter in causing the death of his wife.
Today it is expected that the grand
jury will consider the cases of Motor
man Michael Hiney and Conductor
Thomas Calvin, who are bound over
from the district court as a result of
the fatalities of the Leicester acct
dent.
The traverse jurors, before whom the
actual criminal trials will be- held,
have been summoned to report at 10
O'Clock Thursday morning. 1t is not
expected that the grand jury will com
plete its labors In time to report before
Thursday morning, as the Leicester ac-
cldent case will occupy considerable
time. large number of witnesses hay
inS been ordered to appear before the
grand jury. Court Officers A. A. len
kins, Deputy Sheriff Emory o. Bacon
of Oakdale, Deputy Sheriff w. w. Scott
and Deputy Sheriff Boutwell, are the
officers in attendance.
1t was said from the district attor-
ney's office yesterday, that the criminal
term would last "a week besides the
days occupied with the court in the
present week. The list of cases Il
shorter than usual, and a short term
results.
The superior civil court will sit m
I'll Thursday in the court room, ad-
1ourning Wednesday afternoon until
Jan. Goth, when the civil court will re-
sumo its session before T,,doa 60