The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-13
GRAND JURY IS ORGANIZED City Court of Montgomery Begins Work. JUDGE TH0MAs's CHARGE As Usual, He DwellS on In-
 crease of H0micideS.  Spoke of the New vagran,y Law and of aambling-w. D. westcott
 Selected as Forem en of
 Grand Jury.

The Grand Jury of Montgomery county for the October term of the City Court of Montgomery was yesterday organized and charged by Judge William H. Thom- as. associate judge of the City Court. Court met promptly at noon. Out of the twenty-one grand jurors drawn, only one was excused, F. M. Jones. who was re- lieved from service on account of busi- ness reasons, and one juror, W. K. Pelz- CT was reported not found.
 As soon as the jurors were properly qualified. Judge Thomas appointed W. D. Westcott, foreman, who being duly sworn assumed his duties. The other eighteen jurors were then sworn by H. H. Mat thews, clerk of the court.
 Judge Thomas charged the juries at length. giving them a lucid idea of their duties. while in the service of the county.
 In charging the Grand Jury. Judge Thomas explained the duties of the jury, the necessity for secrecy and the sanctity of their oaths. He also showed when true bills should be returned.
 Judge Thomas then expressed his well known views as to homicide.
 Increase of Homicides.
 'The desire to impress upon you the situation as to homicide is my apology for speaking plainly on that subject" said Judge Thomas. "I expect to keep urging this important question on the minds and hearts of our grand juries till they, al least, will not fail to know that am in earnest about it.
 With pleasure I state that Montgom- cry county is no worse than a large por- tion of our country. have heretofore given comparative tables of the rate oi homicide in the different States showing that 1t was not alone a question of den- slty or of population, or of race, or oi climate, or of illiteracy, but the terrible result of conditions rooted in a peoples standard of honor, which experience has made a public opinion directing and re- straining the enforcement of law. "If 1t were announced that well de- veloped case of small pox. or appendicitis existed in this city. and that appendicitis was contagious, there are members of this Grand Jury who would think I should not convene court at this time, not know ing that in the United States each year there is an average of 10, ,465 homicides when the last census shows that only half that number die of appendicitis. (5.11D and only a third as many of small pox (3.4S4.
 If scarlet fever were near our homes we would hasten to remove our children from it's contagion. yet do we appreciate and do our duty in trying to put down disregard for human life that takes off annually third more of the citizenship of the United States than does that dread scourge ,(deaths from scarlet fever 6333) and which lack of reverence for human life is exercising a subtle reflective in- fiuence, permeating all stages of our so- cial and political life the evil tendencies of which encourage every other crime and beget untold miseries that cannot pc com piled by census takers pencil.
 Retreat No Cowardly Doctrine.
 Tt is no defense for Alabamians that other sections are equally guilty. The duty upon us is that We meet it's respon- sibility promptly. fearlessly, and honestly. What we most need is to condemn and punish that silly sentiment that avenges wounded honor or fancied insult with the life of its victim. To condone it is to place a premium on brutal courage and cheapen human life. The law of Alabama says the doctrine of retreat is no cow ardly doctrine (s7 Ala. 6, and if this rule be learned and observed. it must di- minish the rate of homicide.
 'I then ask you. gentlemen, can it be said that a man is cowardly If he be brave enough to restrain his passion as