Evening star., 1900-10-01
Prince Georges Grand Jurors Meddle
in Alleged Rape Case.
TRY TO GET GIRL TO COMPROMISE
States Attorney Levin Makes the
Statement in Court.
JUDGE MERRICK'S REMARKS
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
MARLBORO October 1.-Shortly after
the court convened today and the grand
jury was sworn and charged by Judge Mer-
rick, States Attorney Levin said he had q
very unpleasant duty to perform, referring
to the alleged rape case in which Sheriff
Edward Shea and others are defendants.
He said he had been informed by the father
of Miss Hart. the alleged victim. tnat two
members of the grand jury had approached
him and sndeavored to have him COM
promise the case. Judge Merrick said he
had heard such a report and assured the
attorney that he would give the matter at
tention at an early date.
In his charge TO the grand jury Judge
Merrick said: III is not my privilege to
congratulate the people Of the county upon
it's good criminal record during recent
months
1T Is a source of much regret to me that
there Is heavier criminal docket at this
session than l have known during my
forty years experience. Happily there
are no cases of murder or arson. but am
sorry to say that there is a rape case, in
which the sheriff of the county is charged
as one of the defendants. During the past
few months there has been great deal OF
sneering and insinuations thrown out be-
cause of certain things said to have been
committed and some claim has been made
that q Speclal session OF tne court was
necessary. / have found no such necessity.
and the present grand jury is fully able to
cope with the violations Of the law"
Wanted Justice Done.
The court told the jurors that they
would be called upon to deal with cases
in which the accused had hosts of friends
and who were people of previous good
character.
Justice is all that must be DONE" he
said, land no difference is to be made be-
tween the high and influential people ana
others.
81 hope that the court through its Off
GERS and juries, will be able to administer
the law SO that all evildoers shall tremb!e
at the thought of being brought within the
halls of this tribunal When you nave es-
tablished the feeling that all are above in
timidation and corruption you will have
reached the point where the court can say
that crime will be on the decrease. IL al
most chills my blood when hear that by
this and that influence certain things are
done If you will do your duty the balance
will be done in proper time.
He AIludes to Prize Fighting.
Judge Merrick told the grand jury that
there had been considerable trouble in the
county about the very much mystified SUD.
ject of prize fights, and he denounced the
fighting in unniistakable terms. The sher-
iff he said had prevented these men from
hammering and beating each other. and ne
had received the commentator or the
court, the states attorney and the people or
the whole county "On subsequent oc-
ca sion," he added, this was not done, and
am told that this fight was conducted In
the presence of the officers. Some lawyer,
[ am told, gave the the information that 1t
was not violation of law.
Continuing, the court defined the law re-
lating to assault and battery, and said that
every man who engages in these so-called
contests and strikes to injure another was
guilty and should be indicted If you
find that such a condition existed he con-
tinued 1T Is your plain duty to present
the participants. 1t is stated that such
things were permitted in Baltimore. What
ever may be permitted there has nothing
to do with this county. When public
officer witnesses violation of law and fails
to do his duty he, too, might be liable. 1
do not intend that men from abroad. who
are not permitted to violate the law at
their own home. shall come into this county
and do .as they please. They must be as
decent In Prince Georges county as they
are in the District of Columbia. and they
must be taught that the law here will be
enforced
In conclusion the judge said that there Is
a distinction between boxing matches and
other contests.