The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-03
NOT FEAR NOR FAVOR.
CONTINUED from Tenth Page.l

of a healthier and purer public .senti-
ment
You may rely upon it. gentlemen
that this court places at your disposal
as heretofore, absolutely every lawful
process. needful for apprehending and
punishinb crime--and this community
locks to you and l depend upon you, to
spare no pains TO bring to justice
those guilty of the violation of law
Let me caution you that it is not de-
signed that you should refrain from
presenting one for the violation of law
simply because you regard the partic-
uar law as one that should not be en-
forced. There are many laws upon our
statute books that may not appeal
strongly to the individual mind of some
of us; laws whose benefcence and wis
dom, we may question perhaps, vet
this is not matter that should concern
you. Yours is not the proper tribunal to
determine questions of this character
Your duty is to determine whether the
evidence submitted, if unexplained. is
sufficient to convict of the violation of
the penal law involved, without refer.
ence to your individual opinion of the
law itself When you assume the oh
legation of a grand juror the individual
should be forthwith merged into the
official self, and all matters submitted
should be viewed from that standpoint
alone.
Until law is repealed. we are
bound by 1t, and if it is desired that
it be abolished, the quicker and better
way to accomplish this is to rigidly en-
force it,"
At this point Judge Seabrook read to
te grand jury the statute defining it's
powers and duties. Then he continued:
The Grand InquisitiOn.
You observe, that you have prac-
tically inquisitorial powers. Grand
Jurors are expected to do more than
merely pass upon prosecutions sub
mitted through ordinary channels The
law looks to each of you for such dis
closures as you are able to make; and
this, too. without reservation. 1t may
be preferable, and doubtless is.
for prosecutions to be instigat-
ed by others, but when such
others fail, and you or any
one of you is in possession of facts,
which if revealed, will either author
ize an indictment. or be sufficient to
incite inquiry on the part of the grand
jury. You should not hesitate. Pro-
ceedings are authorized to originate
within your official body, in the nature
of special presentments, and each
grand juror is expected to do his part
in furnishing what evidence he can
secure from sources within his own
knowledge.
''The very oath to which you have
each subscribed, contemplates protec-
ton. The states secrets, your fell
lows and your own, you should keep.
The evident purpose of this provision
is to encourage freedom of speech and
freedom of action on the part of grand
jurors in the discharge of their duties.
No man cares to have the public know
what part he takes in bringing about
prosecutions. and unless we are en-
couraged by a sense of security from
public or private criticism, we are
loath to fulhn our entire duty in this
regard"
Judge Seabrook reviewed briefly the
criminal statutes in regard to gam
bling, the Illegal sale of liquor and
carrying concealed weapons. all of
which he is required to give in charge
under the laws of the state. The duty
of the grand jury in regard to the in
Vestigation of the books and accounts
of county officers was also pointed out
by the court.