The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-11-13
NOVEMBER COURT,

ne November TERM Oh the AlTCull AOufl
convened on Monday with Judge James
D. Walters on the bench. The other
officials were w. S. Forwood, Jr.. clerk,
Fred. w. Reasin, sheriff, John Bauer,
crier, Bernard Dunnigan and H. Sapp
Scarborough, bailif1s.
On motion of Col Ohio S. Lee the Sep
tembcr term of Court was declared ad-
journed.
The following jurors were excused:
Charles A. McCoinmons, p. Tevis Baker,
William +. Robinson and John Locilary.
In their places were drawn Samuel S.
Denbow. +, Joseph p. Dalton, 4, Charles
P. McClung, +. Joseph D. Burns, 5.
The following grand jury was selected:
A. Henry Strasbaugh, foreman.
| Fred. c. Lawdcr, E. w. Scarborough,
Richard Wcbster,Ir. w. Arthur Hanna,
Samuel Thomas, James B. Luckey,
| John ". Spencer, H. Clay Miller,
| \. +. Anderson, John A. Herman,
Augustus Lackev, Frederick w. Smith,
lanes W. Wilson, Franklin Miller,
| { K Stamford, John II. Stewart,
! NJ. McCausland, James NJ. Kelly,
a. Il. Courtney, w. 5. Armstrong,
| {. l.. Eichelberger, Robert H. Mitchell.
Judge Waters in delivering his charge
to the Grand Jury spoke without notes
and at greater length than has been his
usual custom; and although addressed to
the grand jurors, especially, his remarks
were evidently intended for the petit
jury as well. The charge, though it
seemed somewhat abstruse to many,
was followed by the closest attention.
We canrot give the judges charge in
full but must content ourselves with Il
brief summary; his chief theme being the
Importance and responsibility of the
duties incumbent on jurors. He began by
giving what he considered the most
general definition of law, namely:
"a mode ofexistence or all order of
sequence which he explained to mean
that nothing Tor no-thing) can exist
without law and that the relation be-
tween cause and effect is due to law. In
the beginning 1.-THE earth was without
form and void" the spirit of God moved
upon this chaotic mass, making it subject
to law and thus creation was begun,
and so far as we know was ended. If the
same power that imposed law upon
matter should remove it, matter would
at once revert to chaos. The mind may
conceive of matter withouttorm, but we
cannot take cognizancc OF il by our
senses and so far as we are concerned it
is nothing.
The moral law was defined to be the
law imposed by the creator upon man,
when He made him in his own image, a
reasonable being, capable of being re-
sponsiblc for his own voluntary acts.
The moral law defines the difference be-
tween right and wrong and makes virtue
and vice possible.
Natural law and the moral law en-
force themselves or are enforced by their
author. Mans duty under the moral
law is simply, obedience-he has nothing
; to do with enforcing the law. In this
the law of nature and the moral law
differ from municipal law, which is de.
fined to be "a rule of civil conduct pre-,
cribed by the supreme power in State
enioining what is right and forbidding
what is wrong" This law being made
, by men must be enforced by men and is
of no effect unless so enforced. Municipal
law is intended to enable the members o.
a community (Which we may call a State
a nation, a commonwealth or kingdom)
r to live together in peace and security. |
all men obeyed the moral law, municipal
law would be unnecessary; but as mer
cannot enforce the moral law or assist il
enforcing it, they require for their pro
j lection law which they can enforce by
e imposing penalties for its violation. \
. State cannot exist without municipal
u law and the laws of State togethcl
: wit the manner in which they are en-
$ forced constitute the BEST if not the onl,
$ standard by which the civilization of ;
;, State may be measured. Municipal law
: is, no doubt, founded on the moral Law
5 because without the latter we could no
distinguish between right and wrong
i and without it right and wrong woulC
not exist; but we must bear in mind tina
ii thing Indifferent itself becomes wron;
: for the citizens of State when forbidden
by the laws of the State. In enforcin!
II the law we have nothing to do with til
l. abstract question of right and wrong
n This question is for those who make tn
q law and not for those who administer il
The Judge spoke of Service" of on