The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-05-25

| The Grand JUICY adJouRRsd on Saturday
| after having been in session six days and ex
| amining ninety-four witnesses. 1t was one OF
| the most intelligent, and in every respect
| best grand juries which have ever sat in the
| county, being composed OF thoroughly repre-
| sentative citizens from each district In the
| county.
They came into court twice on Friday asking
| to be discharged, but at the urgent request Of
| Judge Walters returned to their room GuG
again consulted upon the matter which has
been Inc chief topic Of conversation in every
portion of the county during the week.
They finally agreed to prepare memorial,
asking the County Commissioners to offer 1.
reward for the arrest and conviction OF the
parties who participated in the recent lynchnE
and, the foreman, Mr.. Strasba ugh and Mesars.
Samuel 7. Edei and Joshua Whitaker werr
appointed to prepare and present the men oIia
to the Commissioners.
In accepting the report of the jury, Judg,
Waters took occasion to thank them for tncii
attendance and labors, saying in effect, tina;
he was satisfied that they had done ali III their
power to ferret out the perpetrators OF tal
outrage and that it was their honest opiniur.
that they Were not able 20 discover THE
parties, from the evidence before them. &c
was gratifed that they had adopted hia sug.
gestioa as to the memorial asking for re-
ward to be offered. HI discharged the Jury witt
the understanding that he would Call them
together again, under Ghe Act of 1900, should
any further conclusive evidence be discovered.
The following is the report of the Grand
Jury, in fun:
BEL AIR, Nd, MAY 10, 1900.
To the Hon. james u. Waters:
Judge OF the Circuit Court for
Hartford county.
r.he Grand Inquest for the May term, 1900
desire to inform your Honor that it has con-
plercd the investigation OF matters before the
body.
'During,the session covering Blk days there
have been examined ninety-four witnesses, re-
suiting in tie finding of fourteen true bills
and ignoria;: nine cases for want of sufficient
proof of violation.
The jury sited the Jail and found that ut
present there was not prisoner incarcerated
within its walls. The jail was found to be clean
and showing every indication of being well
kept.
The matter seeming to be of the greatest
inn port considered durinG the session. the jury
were unable to obtain any facts definite |
enough to plicate any person or persons. |
The matter referred TO was that OF breaking
into the Jail and taking thcrefrom Lewis
Harris. c0lored, and his subsequent lynching.
The jury appreciate the strong charge de-
livered by his Honor, and the utmost endeavor
cover through the many witnesses before |
them some facts that would allow them TO |
decide who the participants in this act against |
the law and order of the county, were, but |
from the evidence before 1t nothing whatever |
could be determined.
The notice of the grand jury has been at |
tracted to the condition of the jury room. and |
we would recommend that q small amount Of |
money be expended in its Improvement, look |
ing to the comfort of future juries.
On second consideration, the suggestion Of |
fered by his H onor relative to the Jury draft |
ing memorial to the County Commissioners, |
for the Offering of a suitable re- /
ward for the detection and conviction of the |
parties guilty of the lynching of Lewis Harris, |
was adopted.
The thanks of the jury arc hereby exteoded
TO his Honor and the other court officers for /
their kind aud courteous treatment during |
the session. and they now most respectfully |
ask to be discharged.
A. H. STRAsBAUdH.
Foreman.
The following resolutions were passed:
Resoiged, That the members of the Grand /