The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-01-16
Was Iona. Elaborate. Profound
Riqid and Forceful. Instructions
Carefully and Emphatically
Given.
Explanations OF Extraordinary Character Given
Nothiaa~ Left Unsaid to Aid Them in Their
Work.

they are not enforced they are farce.
MANY people who are indicted re-
fiect on the grand jury, especially II
friends are on It. They think they
should save them. II the facts are
proven the grand jury has no discre-
tion In the matter. The grand jury
can not protect friends without doing
a great wrong.
ssThe grand jury room is no place TO
punish enemies or faver friends. Your
oath is your best guide. 1t means
that you shall diligently inquire, not
casually. present no person through
malice, hatred or ill-will, and none IN
presented through fear, favor or par
liality, but In all find the truth.
Simply keep your oath and you viii
have no trouble"
The judge said 1t was not necessary
to call their attention to the law
about treason as they would have
nothing of the sort before them.
He explained the law about offenses
against the person, from murder down
to assault and battery and instructed
them TO find not an indictment for
murder but simply the facts IN the
case, such as deliberate killing and so
on. With all offenses the grand jury
acts upon the facts. With the legal
deduction the grand jury has nothing
to do.
Next he dwelt upon the laws about
offenses against property and explain
ed in detail their meaning and what
the grand jury had to do with them.
Then he took up forgery, public JUS
tice. In this connection he claimed
that our criminal system is perfect
and that, If all would do their duty no
guilty man would go unpublished
He asserted that the officers should re-
port crimes to the prosecuting attor-
ney and he should Bring them before
the grand jury and that they in turn
should thoroughly investigate and
make proper findings.
He touched lightly on illegal mar
riages and indecencies. Next he took
mp public policy and c, mmented on
gaming and similar vices. He thought
the best way TO suppress them would
be for the city governments 10 enforce
the law against them, but the circuit
court had no power to make the cities
enforce them. He divided gaming
into classes, one where the skill OF the
players is equal but the chances un-
equal. Faro banks and other similar
devices were put under this class. He
was of opinion that slot machines
come clearly under this head and that
the owners, operators and landlords
are liable to indictment. The second
class is where the skill OF the players
IS equal and the chance unequal. such |
as poker and other games of cards
The law against this class OF playing
in public places is mainly out Of defer
ence 10 those whose education makes
the sight of game of cards repulsive
TO them.
The judge then touched upon the
election laws. taxation and other mat
ters usually included in a charge.
Direction was given 20 Investigate
failure TO return personal property for
He favored the advaiorem
system Of taxation.
On the question of license he took
the position that license was a tax and
= part of our system OF collecting rev.
enues. The prime object OF the sys-
tenn is 70 raise revenue and not 10 pro-
hibit the sale OF intoxIcants or the
pursuit OF certain businesses. Men
who do not pay this tax are no more