The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-06-05
Judge Cray Informs That Body Upon
Certain Matters to Investigate.
He Calls Attention to Alleged Viola
Iation of the Liquor Laws.
Frequentors of Wine Rooms and Other
Iniraciions of Statutes.
Strong Document Presented to County
Inquisitors BY the Court.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Judge Cray this afternoon delivered his
charge to the grand jury. Among other
things the court said:
Il think it proper to charge you that
it is your duty to investigate and ascer-
tain whether in this city or elsewhere in
this county, places where intoxicating liq-
uors are licensed to be sold, are being
conducted in violation of law.
The law provides that all
persons licensed to sell mtoxi-
eating liquors in this state close
their places of business (hotels excepted)
at eleven o'clock at night, and keep the
same closed until five o'clock in the
morning, and sell no intoxicating liquors
therein, between those hours.
1T is made unlawful also to dispose
of intoxicating liquors upon the Sab
bath day, and all licensed saloons are re-
quired to be kept closed during all hours
of every Sabbath day.
1t is also made unlawful to dispose
OF intoxicating liquors to any minor per-
son for the use of himself or any other
person, or to any pupil or student in any
public school, OF to any habitual drunk
ard, Incorporate drinker, or intoxicated
person.
1T is also unlawful to admit any
person under the age of twenty one years
into any place where intoxicating liquors
are sold or given away, or to furnish in
any manner any cigarettes, cigars OF
tobacco in any form to any person UNI
der eighteen years of age, or to any minor
pupil in any school, or for any such per-
son to smoke on use cigarettes, cigars
or tobacco in any form on any public
Highway, street, alley, park, or in any
public place.
These offenses may be punished by
Indictment by grand jury, and by trial
III the district court.
These laws apply to all cities and
villages in this state, and hence they APP
ply with full force to the city of Man
kato.
at is matter of current report that
1nx,,
the express or implied consent of pub
lie officers whose duty it is to see that
the laws are enforced
Il charge you that it is not in the
power of any public officer to consent
that these laws, or any other public
laws be violated, and it is your sworn
duty to make reasonable investigation,
10 ascertain whether any of these laws
10 which your attention has been called,
are being violated, and if they are, to
take such steps as shall bring the guilty
parties to justice.
THE laws of this state were enacted
to be obeyed, and are not to be lightly
disregarded by any man, nor class OF
men, neither are they to be set aside ,and
their enforcement suspended by any pub
lie officer, or officers.
1T is not unusual to hear of saloons
in this city being kept open on the Sab
bath day, and ON secular days during
hours prohibited by law, and of liquors
being sold therein, as well to habitual
drunkards, incorporate and intoxicated
persons. as to minors and pupils in the
schools. and to hear of minor persons,
mere children, both male and female.
being found in saloons and wine rooms
in this city, in state of intoxication
and indulging in the use of cigarettes,
cigars and tobacco, and it is openly
charged that these things are so by the
express consent and approval of officials
of this city whose duty it is to see that
the law prohibiting this condition of
things, are enforced.
IF these things are true it necessarily
involves bare faced violations of the law
by some one, and you may well use your
best efforts to ascertain who the viola
tors are. to the end that proper steps
NAV be taken to secure their arrest and
punishment.
THE grand jury is very important
part of the machinery for the enforce
ment of the criminal laws, and the pres
ervation of the peace and good order Of
the people, and you are here convened allC
sworn as such grand jury, and you woul'
violate your own oaths, and reject dis
credit upon yourselves as good citizens
should you neglect or fail to honestly an'
fearlessly investigate these and all othe
offenses and conscientiously do your dut,
and find indictments in all cases wher
the evidence requires it, without any re
gard whatever to what your ideas ar
as TO the wisdom of the laws which yo'
are required to enforce. The very Iii