The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-02-09
CIRCUIT COURT.
Business is Being Rapid y Despatched
with Judge McCool Presiding.

Kosciusko, acting as special judge in
the place Of Judge w. F. Stevens, who
still continues very i'll. In the
selection of the grand and petit
juries the judge was very careful To
determine that all jurors had paid all
their taxes for two years prior to the
first day of February. After empanel-
ing the grand jury the judge proceeded
to give them his charge, which was
delivered extempore and without
previous thought, he not having been
notified OF his appointment until last
Saturday night. The charge was Of
some length and was q OF the most
searching and stringent ever delivered
to a like body in Grenada county. He
called special attention 10 the care of
the roads and asked the jury to indict
all overseers who have been negligent
in duty. AS was advised in the
SENTINEL of last week the Judge
dwelt at some length upon the matter
of poll tax delinquents, and his words
on this subject are given below. There
has been much favorable comment
concerning this able charge, the
salient points of which are as follows:
II call your attention to the consti-
tuition of Mississippi and the laws en-
acted in pursuance thereof which MAKE
it IA penal otfense for any man TO serve
as a petit or grand juror, or vote 10 the
primary OF general elections, when
said proposed jurors or voters have not
paid the poll or ad valorem taxes re-
quired of them for two years on or be-
fore the time they propose to vote or
render the service. They must not
only be registered voters of the county
in which they serve or vote, but they
must go further and be qualified elect
ors OF the county. Public sentiment is
so advancing and improving on this
line that it is now prepared TO vigor-
ously uphold the law. and when the
public sediment has been so advanced,
invigorated and vitalized as now GU
the subject, then the courts will have
no difficulty in enforcing the law. Men
who purpOsely become delinquent in
the payment of their taxes are NOT en-
titled TO further participate in the en-
joymcut Of the privileges of the gov
ernment which provides for the protec-
tion OF their lives and liberties, ana
the education of their children,
and if they expect any further priv
ileges from the government. then they
must contribute their pro rata share OF
the burdens for its annual support. The
man who will not do that Is unworthy
to sit as a juror in any court and Is dis
qualified 10 vote in any election. wheth-
err 1t be primary or general election. In
other words, those who dance must pay
the fiddler, and hat Is the way it was
when used TO play the fiddle. and as |
have the bow In my hand this week this
will be the rule by which we will per-
form. | especially exhort you, gentle
men Of the grand jury. to investigate
whether or not any man voted, either
10 the general or primary elections ol
your county within the past two years,
who has failed TO pay his poll TAX or
other taxes as required by the constitu.
ton, and the laws enacted hereunder.
You, yourselves, assure me under oath
that you have paid all the taxes requir'
ed of you for the past two years on OF
before the first day of this month, and
the sheriff 10 the presence of the court
also assures me that you are clear on
the records in his office, OF any liablli.
ty against you for taxes.
AS no functionary has duties more
important to perform than a petit OF
grand juror, whose duty Is to try the
issues OF life. liberty and property, un'
der the direction of the court, it Ii
highly essential to the welfare of the
commonwealth that they be intelligent
patriotic, t~ax>paying citizens who have
an interest in common for the preser
walton and perpetnity Of human rights
AS to the ballot box, 1t Is the palladium
Of our liberties. the foundation stone
on which rests the innumerable bless
lngs OF our government. and it SHOULD
not be contaminated by a lot of inccmpe
tent aud unworthy men voting for Oul
/, officers, from president down to consta,
Bile. The ballot box should be held a
sacred az the ark OF the covenant
Again enioining you in conclusion OF
this subject TO investigate and indie
all men who have violated this law, /
such violations there be, | say that i
/ you do this you will have performed al
important duty to your county and t.
your state, exemplifying that you ar,
abreast with the spirit that prompted
: the august and patriotic convention II
lbobS WIG SiCht ttiol VI I {
stricting the franchise OF our state Il
, those who are worthy to exercise IT,
On the blind tiger question Judg,
McCool delivered himself as follows:
. The sale of liquor is an impo:t tan
y thing for you TO consider. You nav
s in this county adopted what is know
as the local option law. and under thi
law IL Is violation of the law to sci
intoxicating liquors 10 your county
and IL is your duty to see that the la,
has been vindicated. While speaking
personally, | advocate The temperate
d side OF the question, and in my count
| write letters and make speeches
c that effect, but | am not an extremist
s | think moderation is the main thing
and | do not believe Ia the extrem
punishment being ioaicted on thes
%evildoers unless they are habitual, an
then think that it should be pecess,
d nv to inlict the maximum ia order I
reform. III a man way out on the boz
" ders, an ignorant white man or negr
e who can hardly keep the wolf from b.
door should just step over the line an
sell Il little whisky on some special o,
casion. think that he should he fine