The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
REMEDY FOR l GREAT EVIL Grand Jury Lcctured on r HOmicideS. JUDGE THoMAS'S CHARGE Talks Of Assaults With Intent
 to Murder. Dealt at Length with Affairs of coun- lty and Conduct of ofacials-No-
 table and Interesting
 Document.
JUDGE THoMAs's CHARGE

The February term of the City Court began yesterday. In the criminal di- vision, presided over by Judge Thomas, the grand jury was organized and charg- cd. The grand jury. of which W. J. Quinn is foreman, is a strong and able one. The gentlemen composing the jury are as fol- lows: W. J. Quinn: WE. Graves, C.. w. Baber, P. P. Gray. Q. c. McNeill, R. Cantelyou, J. M. Handy, Thomas Brady. R. A. Chapman, H. P. Yarbrough, W. T. Merriwether. John Hillman. J. R. Seals. T. W. Smith and Charles G. Abercrombie.
 The charge of Judge Thomas was thoughtful. scholarly, and instructive. 1t made a deep impression upon all who heard it. The Judge was an hour in de- iiverfng it, and he was given the closest attention by the jurors and by all who heard 1t.
 In his remarks to the jury. Judge Thon1- as again took up the subject. which he had handled 90 ably in his charge to the previous grand jury, the cheapness of human life in Alabama. as shown by statistics. The rate of homicide had reached too great a percentage to our population. and he quoted figures to show it. Human life. he said, was regarded too cheaply in Alabama. The certainty of punishment was the remedy for this great evil. He also urged them to thor
  intent to murder. As to this crime, he quoted Governor odell of New York, who said, "An assault to murder 50 far as the person making the assault is con- cerned, only lacks actual death of his victim to make the crime complete" As to gambling. Judge Thomas said that the rigid and impartial enforcement of the law would carry terror to all iaw-break- CTS. EE
 Violation of Sunday Law.
 Judge Thomas devoted considerable of his remarks to the violation of the Sum- day law by whiskey sellers He urged the jury to indict ali vfolators Of the statute relating to the sale of whiskey and in this way protecting the liquor dealers who do conduct a lawful busi- ness and at the same time protecting the public. He called attentioa u tie antitrust provision of the new constitu- ton and asked the jury to ascertain if there had been any unlawful combina- tion. He strongly condemned the con- ceaIed weapon habit. and said that he was convinced that this habit contributed largely to the rate of homicide in Ala bama. An interesting part of the charge was devoted to the hardships undergone by State witnesses who were brought to court to testify and who were by circura- stances forced to sell their certificates at a great sacrifice. He had no censure for the firm or firms engaged in buying script. They were lawfully engaged in a lawful business. The evil had resulted from the action of the City Council in placing a license tax upon dealers in script of $50. which gave a practical monopoly to one person or firm, no one slse being able or caring to pay the li- .ense. He asked the grand jury to re- luest the City Council to repeal the fhA ataI istnx HznA power to remedy the ,evtl, he thought hat the Council would repeal the license f requested to do so by the grand jury. He congratulated the jury that with the adoption of the new Constitution, the ,l1 menace of corruption in the ballot box had passed away. He charged the jury to look closely for any violation in the election provision of the new Con- stitution Bribery, which Judge. Thomas called the growing evil of the State. came In for special attention. He told the jury that the forms of bribery were man fold.
 Affairs of the County.
 Perhaps the most interesting part of Judge Thomas'5 charge was that in which he dealt with county affairs. He told the fury that 1t was enjoined upon them to make a diligent enquiry to ascertain if any public official had taken any con- tract for work or services of the county. The jury was instructed to carefully in- vestigate the books and services of ef-. fcials. County finances also received the attention of the Judge. He quoted the statute relating to the publication by the County Commissioners on the 1st of each January and July. The purpose of the statute. Judge Thomas declared, was to give specific information of the condi- ton of the county. both as to It's receipts and as to its disbursements. and not by statements in the aggregate. To his mind. Judge Thomas declared the word publication" meant publication in a newspaper and not posting. Judge Thomas also impressed upon the jury the importance of carefully Investigating the bonds of the county officials. He charged the jury to especially investigate the san.