The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-10-05
The Circuit Court.

The October term Of this Court con
yencd on Monday, with his Honor Judge
| Merrick on the Bench. Mr.. X. Irving
Bowie was appointed foreman, and thef
the Court proceeded to draw the Crane
Jury in accordance with the new law
| When the panel was completed and the
oath administered, Judge Mcrrick in al
| impressive and able manner delivered the
charge.
He said there were no cases OF murder
or arson but that nearly every either crime
was charged. He urged upon them the
duty of acting in accordance with the sol
emn oath they had taken, and hoped that
no one would allow himself to be intlu-
cnced or intimidated.
After the jury was charged Statcs's At
torncy Levin said he had very unpicas-
ant duty to perform, referring to the al
legged rape case i'll which Sheriff Edward
Shea and others are defendants. He said
he had been Informed by the father of
Miss Hart, the alleged victim, that two
members of the grand jury had approached
him and endeavorcj to have him compro-
mise the case. Judge Mcrrick said he had
heard such a report and assured the attor-
ney that he would give the matter atten-
ton at an early date.
On the following morning the State 5
Attorney read an affidavit by Mr.. Hart
and the Judge excused from further at
tendance Mcssrs Pinkncy \. Scaggs and
Somerville Hall after hearing statements
from them.
Judge Mcrrick, before dsmissing the
two jurors, said in substance:
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY This is a
serious matter; one that is ffaught with
more than ordinary consequences, be-
cause the grand jury of this county should
be above reproach. If there is a body
whose reputation should be as Caesar 5
wife-above suspiclon-it is the grand
jury which is the protection of the people.
If this charge be true, punishment should
be meted out to the offending parties
proportonate to the evil which would
follow such methods if allowed to 90 I'M
noticed by this Court. The Court does
not tHlHk llIdG luiS iiIINLttN II Noti'i nay l
been made by the father of this girl with
out good and sufficient cause, and any
such state of affairs as the affidavit alleges,
if true, is crime which impedes the pro-
gress of justice and renders fruiticss Your
deliberations. 1t is an indlctablc 0ifensc,
and if the statement bears any truth the
accused have no right to further partici-
pate in the proceedings Of this body. If
the fountain of Justice and right is to be
so impeded, then you are setting at naught
the purposes for which you are assembled.
No one has the right to impede, interfere
or hinder the administration of the crimi
nal law. These parties have discrcdited
themselves as unfit to sit again on the
grand jury. The action of you two gentle
men have made you liable and have sub
iected you to indictment for compound
ing felony.
You, gentlemen Of the grand jury,
must realize your obligations and do not
misunderstood me. So sacred in its pow
er is the grand jury that no man shall sit
as member of that body who SO preju-
dices case as to practically determine
the judgment of the jury before a witness
is called or the case even partially consi
dered. l hope that may never again be
called upon to bring to the notice of the
puUliC anu VIC Iui u SlilIllIti IoHtiltOH VI
affairs, and | would be derelict in my duty
to allow to continue as members of the
jury those upon whom suspicion of such
charter seems to fall. You are therefore
discharged from further connection with
this court"
The Court was engaged Wednesday and
yesterday in the trial of the road case of
Thomas Hynes VS.. the County Commiss-
toner's, which was not completed when
we went to press. Messrs Stanley and
Robinson White for plaintiff Messrs
Contee, Duckett and Dent for defendant.
The Grand Jury have made a number
of presentments, including the parties
charged with an assault upon Miss Hart.
The following is the Petit Jury for next