The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-21
GRAND JURY TO MEET
MAY HAVE EVIDENCE OF SUNDAY
VToLATIONs PRESENTED.
THE QUESTION CONSIDERED.
LEAGUE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
MAGISTRATES AND GRAND JURY.

Foreman Young Refused 10 Discuss
the Reported Request OF the Law
and order League for n SpeciaE
Meeting OF the Grand Jury-The
Meeting This Afternoon VIII Con-
Sidcf General PreScntmcnts, hut
Therein BE Time to Hear sunday
Gases lf They Arc Made out-Term
Draws 10 Its close and LenGuers
VIII Have 90 Hurry.
The grand jury of the Superior Court
viii meet at ! O'Clock this afternoon. 1t
is possible that at this meeting the evil
dence against various business men Of
Savannah. charged with attractions Of
the Sunday closing laws. secured by the
agents OF the Law and order League, VIII
be presented.
The Law and order League, whatever
be its other faults or virtues. IS not very
ELUSIVE body ana information as TO its
plans and intentions percolates rather
slowly from its inner councils. 1t is
understood, however, that gathering OF
the pure in heart will be held this after
noon, before the meeting of the grand
jury. and that then 1t will be determined
whether to carry the evidence secured d.
rectly before tho grand inquest OF the
county, or proceed in the first instance
upon warrants sworn out before the mag
istrates.
The latter course would probably result
in the trial of the alleged offenders in che
City Court, as it is the practice of the
magistrates to turn over misdemeanor
cases to that tribunal and the practice
OF the solicitor general TO try them there.
If the defendants, however, should sec
fit to demand indictment by the grand
jury, this Is their right, and the cases
against them would then be transferred
to the Superior Court
IT has been talked around for the past
several days that the Law and Order
League has asked the grand jury to no d
a special meeting for the purpose of hear
ing the evidence 1t had collected Mr.,
John r. Young, foreman of the grand
jury, was asked yesterday If this was
the fact, but Mr.. Young had reached the
conclusion that 10 divulge even such in
formation as this was prohibited by his
grand jurors oath and refused TO discuss
the question. THE grand jury" quoth he,
and transact such business as is legally
and properly brought before it,"
This, however, Is true. Not single
witness has been subpoenaed to appear
before the grand jury, and unless some
are summoned to-day there will be no
other business of a criminal nature for the
grand jury to investigate, save that the
Law and Order League will furnish.
The meeting of this afternoon will be
principally and primarily for the purpose
OF considering the general presentments
OF the grand jury, which viii be returned
next Tuesday afternoon, when the Supe-
nor Court will adjourn for the December
term Another meeting, to consider this
matter of general presentmeuts and GRIM
inal business also, viii be held Monday
afternoon.
IL the, Law and order League desires
10 do any business with the present grand
Jury, 1t will have to be quick about it,
The functions of tho grand jury Will be
judiciaily determined on Tuesday, when
court will adjourn for the term. The
new grand jury will not be sworn IN until
March 4, the first Monday in the month
when the Superior Court will convene for
its next term.
The evidence said to have been secured
by the leaguers is not against saloon
Keepers only, for soda-water dealers. to-
haC'Oillsts, 1full-SellerS dry-goOdS mer~
chants, green grOcers, and men In other
occupations of business life are all down
on the list. On recent Sundays the
agents of the league are reported either
to have purchased or seen purchased ell
most everything salable, from a pair OF
tan shoestrings to q tan high ball from
a handkerchief to a schooner OF beer.
SO extensive Is this list of indicators
reported 10 be that 1t Is improbable that
the grand jury would be able, in single
session. to bring In true bills of indiot-
ment against the entire bunch Several
afternoons. 1t Is likely, WIN have TO be
devoted to the work.
The criminals, in the meantime, are look
ing forward with some pleasure to the
time when the members of the league
and its investigating agents get out into
the open and stand In the glare or the
cold. white light of publicity. The har-
dened offenders who sell cigars and soda
water on Sundays want to see what their
accusers are like. When they ger
chance they. promise TO institute an in
vestigation Into Old records that will make
things interesting for a time at least.
Therefore, the sooner the grand jury be.
gins 20 get in its work. the better they
will be pleased, that is, OF course, 80 long
as they realize 1t is inevitable.