The leader., 1901-05-08

SOTt Vi IeliOWs.
"All these things lie with you, gen
tlemen. Perhaps it will help you in
doing your duty to remember that it
is not not so much the severity of the
penalty that deters men from crime as
the certainty of punishment. II a
man knows that, when he has COM
mitted crime he is sure to be pun
ished for it, the diminution in crime
would be very gratifying. Let us
make punishment as certain as we
can.
II wish you to remember, gentlemen,
that you are not to shield a man who
has committed an offense against the
law because he is your friend, or to
punish him because he happens to be
your enemy. do not know of a more
contemplate man than one who
would exercise or attempt to exercise
his power to punish man because he
happens to be opposed to him, or
would shield another in crime from
motives of friendship; such a man
would be unworthy the name of gen.
tleman, and when say gentleman, do
not mean the cloth, | mean the man
God fearing, honest, intelligent, law
abiding citizen who knows what 1t Is
to do his duty.
"We would have you, gentlemen, to
look after the working Of the pnblic
roads. The law recognizes the
fact that the public road overseers
should be made to do their duty and
that their work should be investigated,
so no man is placed upon the jury,
who may himself be in the predicament
of not having properly worked his
road. know that the working of the
public roads pays man nothing and
that frequently it takes him from his
other duties, but at last somebody has
to be responsible and the men who
do this work, do nothing which is un-
reas enable. 1t Is their duty, and
where overseers fail to keep their
roads in proper condition, then as
grand Jurors of the county, it is your
duty to indict the guilty parties.
Il want you to look into the county
farm. In some counties in this dis
trict there has been cruelty in the
treatment of the county convicts, and
they have been punished by the lash.
Under our law, the authorities have no
right to whip prisoner at all. They
have no right to so degrade a man.
That prisoners should be treated with
undue severity is not our law. 1t is
the genius and spirit of our law that
no man should be degraded by punish
ment, and whipping by the lash is re-
garded as degrading now. The su-
preme court has expressed itself on
this subject, though not in any reported
| decision | want you to look into tn e
working of the county farm and as
certain whether the prisoners are hui
namely treated. By this, of course
do not mean as visitors, but in hui
name, commons sense way.
Look after the county farm and
see that all things are right there.
Examine the books of all the county
officials who handle any of the county
funds. Sometimes one justice of the
peace will turn into the county treas
ury quite a sum of money, while an
other seems to be a little backward
about bringing up anything. 1t may
l. oil ,,,ht N
is entitled to know it. Officers are al
lowed their fees and expenses and any
sum the people are entitled to should
be paid promptly to the cent.
Examine into the docketS of all
officers. You need a competent book
keeper, but as you may not get one on
the jury, you must do the best you
can. | think that whenever an honest
man makes an honest effort to do an
honest thing he is very apt to get very
near an honest conclusion.
You are the representatives of free
people. If you are sure of a thing
speak it out without fear or favor, and
do not be concerned as to the result.
1t is not every man who can be a
grand juror He must be interested
in the State aud he must be one of the
solid men of the county to be grand
juror. 1t is a great honor to represent
the people as grand jurors and you
should speak out fearlessly and i'm
partially.
"Taxes are high; the crops are grow
ing; times are getting hard give the
county an honest days work while
you are here and when you get
through promptly adjourn.
Now, gentlemen, you may retire"
j. f. Carruth, one of the best and
most prominent citizens of Southwest
Lincoln, was appointed foreman, and
Thos. Lewis, of Brookhaven, bailiff.
The following petit jurors were ap
pointed for the week: 90 '''
Jury No. IA. K. Smith, J. ]. Min
ton, W. NJ. Smith, S. NJ. Hutson, Geo.
Gill, j. Linton, y. Johnson, G. Price,
w. d. Sutton, j. M. Gotten, j. A. De-
cell, W. N. May.
Jury No. 2-E. l.. Lee, Jr., w. w.
May, G. b. Gaskins, F. M. Fur, r. B.
McGuffee, l. Smith, w. w. Hall, T. E.
Falvey, V. J. Coglan, c. Bardwell, E. 7.
Coon, John Covington.
The civil docket was then called and
cases on that docket set. This docket
will occupy the time of the court dur
ing this week, and next Monday the
State docket will be called and pro-
aeeded with.
The following attorneys we're in at
tendance when court opened:
Brookhaven Bar-Cassedy 4 Cassidy,
A. C. McNair, Chrisman & Cannon, E.
f. Brennan, Thos. Brady, 2. u. Jones,
Mcmillan & Hyde, R. D. Lanier, G. G..
Lyell, Ben. P. Smith, j. c. Devereaux.
Bogue Chitto Bari. N. Yawn.
Hazlehurst Barr. N. Miller.
MeComb Bar-Percy E. Quin.
The grand jury has returned three
;nd;otwapts IN date; all for felOnieS