The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-02
JUDGE THOMAS
 CHARGES JURY
Continued from Page seven.)

(Continued from Page Seven.)
 is little to present to the Grand Jury. Appfeciating your difficulty. I beg that you try to find if public officer, if juror, if witnesses or of elector. has been reached. or sought to be improperly influenced. Press your inquiries fur ther to know if anyone having knowl- edge of the commission of felony, has received or agreed to take anything of benefit, to prevent a prosecution, or not to appear as witness. If you find criminal cases have been settled after prosecution begun, see fl the reason be improper.
 We may have honest election, but if there be corruption or a failure In the discharge of duty, in any public office. the will of the people to that extent is thwarted. I have heard of no com piaint of public official, but it Is your duty to consider the conduct. official and private, of the several public of- ficers. to know if there has been will ful neglect of duty. corruption in of flee. habitual drunkenness, incompe- tency, or any offense involving moral turpitude while in office. or committed under color thereof, or connected there with" (4S64).
 hfH diSO utTcCteu Dy Stdtulc tO say that it is an indictabie offeRse for any public officer to deal in any manner whatever in any claim payable out of the county treasury, except he receive 1t in good faith for a debt due him. (5105).
 You will also see if there has been any extortion in office by Justice of the Peace. Register. Clerk. Sheriff, Judge of Probate, or other officer authorized to receive fees for services rendered by him in his official capacity (5l05-5103); or if any County Superintendent of Education. demand. receive or take from any teacher any return. comn,is- sion, rebate fee or gratuity to influence duty ts10f 5ie2), to that end you may summons the teachers of public schools of the county to appear before you. if you have reason to believe the law is being violated in this respect.
 It Is the duty of the Sheriff upon the first day of your term, to lay before your body his book of accounts for feeding priosoners, and it is your duty to enquire into it's correctness The Justice of the Peace is also required to keep and submit for your considera- tion a transcript of his docket of crim- inal cases.
 Integrity of County Officials.
 It is also enjoined on you by the statute to make a diligent inquiry to ascertain if any public official has taken any contract for work or services of the county, or to be employed in any way under such contract, or inter- ested in any way for the hire of county convicts. or selling any goods or sup plies to the county, or become in any wise pecuniarily interested in any con tract or sale, as principal or agent. ex- cept the purchase of drugs for the use of prisoners and paupers. The reason for this requirement is obvious; 1t IS against all propriety and public policy that q person be seller and purchaser. ar master and servant, at the same tf,n, in the same transaction. I have had no ccmpl lint of such double deal ings, but it is your duty to see that the law is not belng violated in this re- gard.
 If public institutions are dependent on the purity of the ballot box, how much more is the enjoyment of all pub lie and private rights dependent upon the purity of the jury box! Then d. rect your investigations to know If the Jury Commissioners have fully dls- charged their duties in the drawing ana selection of jurors as prescribed by law. Has any person me any act calcuiatea to affect the fair selecting. drawing, summoning, impaneling. or organizing of jurors or juries?" t509s-5iOO), has any Sheriff or ether officer having discretion in summoning jurors sum moned or connived at the suninonins of any person, with intent to produce Ea result favorable to any party, having a caase in the court in which such per son is summoned?' (5f01-51O2).
 Your duty does not stop at seeing that the right of a trial by an impar- tial jury is preserved, but it follows the unfortunate prisoner or convict to ms place of confinement or punishment and requires that you see that the rules of humanity, prescribed by the law. be strictly observed. He has not been sentenced to execution. but to whoie- some punishment. that 1t may correct his wicked tendency, may prevent him from a repetition of his crime. and may serve as an example to the com munity. This three fold object can only be attained byJa strict observance of the laws regulating his punishment: and it is my duty to especially charge that YOU see that the law is observed by all with whom he comes in con tact (4546.)
 Have the Board of Revenue provided a proper contract, and the contractor compiled herewith: have all prisoners and convicts been humanely treated oy hirer and his agents or those having them in control; are they provided with sufficient clothing. and wholesome food in sufficient quaEtity; has a prop CT regard for the health of the convict been shown in the place Of conftne- ment. as to, ventilation, bedding. pro vision aCainst heat and cold, and tue observance of other humane require ments: have convicts after the expira- .tion of their sentence. been provided with the required clothing and trans portation, or any convict detained af- ter the expiration of his sentence. En- quire into these things, and if the law has been violated as to prisoners or convicts you will indict.
 There is another class of unfortu- mates that must appeal to the sympa- thy of every enlightened community;