The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-05
COURT IN NEW QUARTERS.
MARBLE PALACE DEDICATED TO
ITS HIGH JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS.


ITS HIGH JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS.
Judge Speer Convened the Distric
and Circuit Courts There Yester'
day Observation-Disclosures and Decor
INN That Marked the First Session
of the court in the New Building
Emphasized' by the Eloquent
Charge Of the Judge-Grand JUROR
All From Interior COunffes-Judge
speer Impressed the Importance OF
Their Duties and Warned Them
Against BEING Approached.
The United States Circuit and Distric'
Courts convened at Savannah yesterday
morning The opening session was held
in the beautiful marble structure from
which in future the DEGREES Of the federal
courts viii go forth Il was marked by
the delivery of the eloquent charge of
Judge Speer to the grand jury and digni-
fed by the orderly decorum which is al
ways present when he presides.
The first session Of the court in the new
building public knowledge Of the intended
presentation to the grand jury OF indiot-
ments impuung the most serious crimes
to men held high in public estimation, men
of wealth. position and standing in the
communities in which they have lived
VINO have been prominent in the business
and political circles of the country, COM
bined with the public assurance that
Judge Speer. in his charge, would deal
with these matters clearly and forcibly
and that he would present them to the
grand jury in such wise that it would not
be his fault if any should go unwhlpped
of justice VINO is shown to be guilty, no
matter how low his condition, no matter
how high his estate" had drawn to the
court room an audience of interested spec
tators and listeners. that fairly filed it.
The room was majestic in its stern and
solemn beauty. The elaborate wood carv-
ings OF its interior decora tons, the polish
ed furniture and the fine and true pro-
portions of the walls formed a fitting
frame for the picture. There were two
score or more of the members of the Sa-
vannah bar, some of whom We're to make
their first motions and ask their first de-
crees in the new building at the session
they were then attending. The distin-
guished manner and appearance of the
presiding judge furnished a fitting CEN
trail figure for this scene of high ju-
dicial dignity.
With such attending circumstances of
occasion and surroundings It was impos-
sible but mat the spectators should per-
init their minds to wander back to the old
court room in the custom house, where
for so many years the terms and sessions
of the federal courts have been held, and
to contrast it's white and plain simplicity
and freedom from adornment with the
beauties Of the room in which they then
were. AT the same time il was impos-
sibe to forget the legal history that has
been made in the old room or fail to re-
member that some of the most important
legal battles in the annals of the federal
courts have been waged and won there
II was upon such a scene that the sun
shone when Judge Speer's gaVei fell yes
terday morning. The officers of the court,
the attendants and the witnesses, the
members of the bar and Of the grand Jury
that had been summoned filed the bar of
the court, While in the benches all about
were rows of curious on-lookers The
members of the grand jury were soon
sworn in. Not one of them is a citizen of
Savannah, all Of them being drawn from
the counties in those portions Of the dis
trict farthest away from the coast This
policy had specific reference to the cases
probably against others that are TO be pre-
sented 10 the grand jury.
The members OF the jury are as follows:
Thomas s. Mickey, foreman, Valdosta;
Joseph 3. Underwood, Quitman; B. F.
Strickland, Naldosta; Stain B. Tomlinson,
Stockton; Thomas A. Beaseley. Qultman;
A A Parrish, ValdOsta; Harris A. Tom
llnson, Stockton: J. 3. Warn. Valdosta; s.
L Xoumans, Blackshear; L. n. Jerger,
+. A. Thomas. Iron City; w.
7. Chapman. Whigham; D. p. Averett,
Ststesboro; Henry Turner. Quitman: NJ.
=. Jones. Townsville; William Miller,
Thomasville; W. b. Hamilton, Thomas
vills; David A Beaseley. Quitman; r. L.
Hicks. Townsville; John d. Bozeman,
Quitman; Reuben Bruson. Donaldsonville;
S. J. hartman, Faceville; w. r. Bell
Benson.
After the grand jury had been sworn,
Judge Speer began. in superb and fault
less diction, to deliver the charge he had
prepared. K was evident as much from
his manner and emphasis. as from his
words, that The Judge was himself con-
WINGED OF the more than ordinarily serious
and important functions that the grand
Jury OF the present session of the court
has to discharge. He began:
at may not be inappropriate that
I should offer you my congratulations.
The grand jury of the United States
Courts, from the adoption of our consti-
tuition, has been a great agency of law,
Of order, Of civilization. Your body Is the
first to exercise its great and benignant
functions in this appropriate, artistic and
Imposing structure, provided by the mn-
nifcenee Of the government for the uses
and necessities of our people. And / am
sure you viii join with me in the hope
that the administration of justice here will
be not less stable and enduring than its
granite foundations, as pure as its spot
less marble. as harmonious, pleasing and
delightful as its architectural beauties.
The realization of this hope will be assured