The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-30
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1903.
DIVERSION FOR GRAND JURORS.

Apparently it may be protraeted as
well as an arduous task to which the
special grand jury has been summoned
but its members may easily avoid the
tcdousncss OF monotony in the perform
ance OF their duties Lawlcssncss is Of
such infinite varitey under the criminal
code Of Montana, and Butte and Silver
Bow county are popularity credited with
such large measure OF enterprise IN dis
regard OF the statutes that honest ihvesil-
CATION may find fruitful field OF crime
widely diversified in product.
All of the ground ought 10 be gone over
in the public interest. 1t has been neg
lected too long, Anything like pariality
in the work would provide new questions
to present TO other grand juries rather
than remedy existing evils. If county
commissioners or city aldermen have been
guilty of wrong doing, they should be
brought TO accountability. Not because
Henzc has been unable to use them oill-
cially to his liking in furthcranec OF his
dishonest purposes. or because Mayor
sponsibilities to the law, but because the
public interests require it, and the law
provides for it, aud justice demands 1t. and
il is the duty OF the grand jury to do II.
For exactly the same reasons the jury
should not ignore the abundant evidence
OF contempt OF law by other city and
county officials which is reported 10 exist.
The crimes against an honest count Of
ballots alleged in certain proceedings III the
supreme court might well be made the
subject OF special and thorough inquiry.
II public funds have been manipulated by
public officials 10 serve private interests
through deposit anywhere without regard
TO the public security against loss, the
facts are not beyond aseertainment and
the Importance OF action 10 remedy any
such condition OF affairs needs no argu-
meut from any source TO be apparent 10
our intelligent jurymcn.
1t is not only known but notorious that
public gambling has been tolerated, and 1t
is entirely within the province OF the
Jury 10 learn whether there are any city
or county officials who have been partners
in the business. directly or indirectly or
whether any OF them have been officially
culpahle in protecting the lawessness when
their oath OF office requires them to enforce
the laws against crime OF this character
There are many other matters OF too
common and too long standing report
in this community which may be properly
brought within the purview Of a grand
jury with benefit to the public There is
no more effective manner by which the
jurymen can resent the inilmations OF the
scandalous Reveilc that the jury has been
summoned 10 scare somebody or other, and
thereby to protect other official offenders
from prosecution or proceeding, than
through a thorough, panstakins and CON
scienlious performance of their whole duty
under the law. Under the circumstances
and in view OF the imputations and inn
pudent threats by the Reyelle, anything
less must be regarded by the public as
nothing better than new contribution to
scandalous court proceedings. Without
fear or favor or malice or prejudice or par
TALLY, wronging no innocent person and
sparing no guilty one, the jury can at once
serve the public effectually, preserve its
own character against insinuations that it
has been drawn for dishonest purpose, and
put an end at once to bad conditions and
to unjust evil reports, both OF which are
hurtful to the legitimate business as well
as to the general reputation OF Butte and
Silver Bow county.