The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-12
COURT OFFICERS TALK BACK.
THEY RESENT INVITATIONS OF
LACK OF REGULARITY IN FIN
ING GAMBLERS.

cepted in Lieu of Fines, SO Far as
1t Related to the Ineumbency of
the Present Solicitor General, De-
nOunced as Untrue-ActiOn of the
Grand Jury in Regard to Gamblers
and Gambling the Talk of the
TOwn-COmmendcd by the Better
Glass of Citizens, who Think the
Present system Ineffective and
immoral.
Through the lndiscretion of some men,
bers of the grand jury, the action taken
by that body at its last meeting in re-
gard to the prevalent evil of gambling In
Chatham county and the apparently inet-
fective methods now pursued by the
courts and officers of justice in their et-
forts to suppress it, leaked OUT yesterday
and soon was common property.
BY a unanimous vote the grand jury
passed a resolution, condemning in no un-
certain terms the existence of gambling
/ houses, where games of chance are in
| daily and nightly operation, and where
the youth OF the city resort expressing
distrust IN the present methods of filming
| some of the principals in these gambling
| houses as a means of stamping out the
evil, and calling upon the senator from the
First district and the representatives. from
| Chatham county in the state legislature
to introduce and urge the passage of an
act, by which it shall not be lawful for a
court to inhct fine for u violation OF
the gaming laws and providing that all
violations of these laws shall be punished
by Imprisonment in the county jail or on
the county chain-gaug.
Grand jurors are under oath not to dis
close the secrets OF the jury room, but it
is surmised that some of the present body's
members gave away the secret in CONVEX
sations with their friends. and these
friends, alive 20 the possible renown that
the telling of such a story would bring,
| passed it on to every one who had ears
10 hear. At any rate, by noon it had
become widely known, and knots of ami
mated citizens We're discussing on the cor
ners this new question, that had been SO
forcibly interjected into the municipal
problems of the day. 1t was noticed that
with the more conservative element the
action of the grand jury found ready com
mendaton, and that its resolution eX-
pressed a conclusion to which most of the
solid citizens of the town had long come
By these it was heartily indorsed.
The members OF the grand jury who
were seen yesterday had become a trihe
wary since they had learned of the de
circulation the story of their action had
been given, and of the widespread COM
ment 1t had aroused. They were averse
to giving any very definite information of
the proceedings in the jury room and cou-
| hned themselves to stating that the reso-
luton had been introduced discussed at
some length and unanimously passed. 1t
is understood that there were quite a num-
Der of speeches made on the question while
1t was under discussion, and that some of
them were hot, direct and to the point.
MIR. F. D. Bloodworlh, foreman of the
grand jury has consistently declined TO
| give out anything on the subject, save the
substance of the resolution or to be quoted
one way or the other. He would state
the contents of the resolution only after
| he had become convinced that the cat was
already out of the bag.
Il was surprised" said Mr. Bloodworth
when l learned that the action of the
grand jury had become so generally
known. | did not feel myself that l had
any right 10 disclose what had happened,
and, though ! have no desire TO criticise
the action of my fellow jurors, either di-
rectly or by implication, l must refuse
now 10 discuss the latter or co make
any comment whatever upon the resolu-
ton. l give you The substance of the
resolution only because of the publicity
that has already been given it, and be-
cause il will Ultimately be published in its
entirety in the presentments of the grand
jury. l regret thai some of the members
of the jury have been so indiscreet, doubt
less in friendly converse tons. as to mem
ton and discuss the matter and that it
has In this manner come 10 the cars of
the public before we had intended it 10
do, and before the time is ripe.
The court officers were extremely indig-
nant at some of the statements that have
apparel in interviews on the
subject of the grand jurys resolution, no
tably that the pleas In the cases of the
three gamblers who were fined last We'd
nesday were not entered in open court and
that it Is the custom to receive thirty or
sixty days notes in payment of fines.
Both of these statements are denounced
as untrue and false in every particular.
Il have'this to say about the matter"
said Mr.. David c. Barrow, who is acting
as solicitor general in the absence of Mr..
Osborne, lin regard TO the alleged de-
scription Of the manner in which Hlrsch,
ODell and Henderson entered their pleas
and were fined. The report that has been
circulated to the effect that these men
were never required TO come into court,
but entered their pleas in the Office of the
sheriff, is absolutely untrue and the grand
juror to whom the statement Is ascrbed
has been either wOefully misinformed or
is guilty of something worse"
THE truth of the matter is that these
defendants were brought into open court
at O'Clock in the afternoon of Wednes-
day, were arraigned and exercised their
right TO plead guilty. Judge Fallgant
fined them 81 900 and costs each with the
alternative of twelve months on the chain
gang, reading the sentence in every case.
The entire business was attended with all
the publicity that could possibly surround
it, unless a day and hour when the court
room was likely to be especially crowded
had been especially selected
This statement / make in the interest
of Judge Falligant to whom the contrary
report does a grave and gross injustice.
The procedure In the case In question was
absolutely as have related 1t, and it is
due Judge Fallgant that the public should
be aware of the facts"
Now as to the statement that 1t has
been customary in this court to accept
notes in payment for fines, / wish to
make an emphatic denial on the part OF
nh ~