The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-12-10

mitted to you by the Court, generally or
specially at any time during your SER
vice, and such matters as are laid be-
fore you by the Prosecutor, who is the
representative of the State, and who holds
an office that is semi judicial in charac-
ter. The time and manner of presenting
business before you should be left to him,
for the great mass of criminal business
which necessarily comes before the Court
in county SO large as this must be sys-
tematized Whatever the Prosecutor
feels it his duty to lay before you by due
production of witnesses it is your duty
to hear without inquiring whether pre-
vious Grand Jury has or has not consid-
cred the same matter.
private person to suggest an inquiry into
an alleged offense, but should refer any
one who Attempts TO make sucn a sugges-
tion to the Prosecutor. If Grand Juror
has knowledge of facts that he deems
proper to be the subject of inquiry he
may state them TO the Prosecutor, or to
his assembled colleagues.A II the Prosecu-
tor when requested by the Grand Jury,
does not see It to be his duty to institute
the inquiry and issue process for wit
nesses you may, through your foreman
lay the matter before the Court.
In early times witnesses who were to
testify before the Grand Jury were sworn
in open court, but the modern practice
is for the court to authorize the issue of
process for the witnesses returnable be-
cutor, as attorney of the Courts process
but no other reasons has such authority.
We have said that the Grand Jury is a
branch of the Court. Normally it should
be in session whenever the court is In
session until its labors are concluded.
But in large county like this that is
impracticable. We do not wish to put
undue burdens upon busy men who are
called upon to discharge public service,
y
ly sessions as has been the general prac-
tice. We are not satisfied, however, with
the practice of assembling in the middle
of the afternoon, and then sitting until
late at night We will for the present
fix your attendance for Fridays OF
each week, at ten O'Clock in the fore
noon If you meet promptly, and take a
short recess in the middle of the day,
and use proper diligence you can prob
ably keep pace with the business the
Prosecutor will lay before you. You may
Of course meet oftener if you so desire.
But until further action the Court will
require your attendance on each Friday
at ten o'clock in the forenoon. You
should dispatch business as expeditiously
as possible, and when nothing remains
unfinished you will please apply for your
discharge The custom OF Grand Jury
continuing its term of service by ad-
journment when there is no business in
contemplation, is not approved by the
Court. New cases arising can well await
the ensuing term.
We have been informed by some of
your number their attendance at this
term is at considerable inconvenience,
and that they had hoped to be excused
1t is not desirable to permanently ex-
cuse them, and the Court INDUCES the
hope that this inconvenience will lead
to promptness and expedition in your
work Should it at any time seem to the
foreman that good reason exists for
excusing any juror from any particular
session that privilege will be afforded to
the foreman so long as it be sparingly
exercised.
You may select your officers and re-
tire.