The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-07
JUDGE WITT
AGAINST RIOT
Charges Grand Jury on This
and BoyC0tting.
QUITE A DRASTIC PAPER
BODY Finds Some True Bills In Mino
Gases, and is Adjourned Over Until
Next Monday-Some Rumors
Of Boycott.
QUITE A DRASTIC PAPER

At the opening Of the regular July term
of the Hastings Court yesterday. the
feature was the sweeping charge to the
grand Jury by Judge s. b. Witt on the
subject of riotng and boycotting. grow
Ing out Of the street car strike situation
It had become knows around that Ills
Honor would have something TO say on
this line before the court met, ana the re-
suit was that quite crowd Oh ih.ef .,..et
spectators were on hand The Jury "nen
made IN was thus instructed by the
court: . ~.
"The conditions which exist In our
midst to-day render 1t necessary tnu1
your attention should DO called espcc,ar
ly to the laws Of the Land mace iot INC
protection of society and lor the mann
tenance Of the peace ana au.ee nc
community. The two branches OF the
law to which | direct your attention are
KNOWN as the law OF riot and tho la"
OF criminal conspiracy.
fortunately for the state the Ia" OF
criminal conspiracy. or what IL hho"n "s
the boycott. has been tho supJect VI
very recent decision by our own ouPieiiie
Court. Tho law as laid down NY .na
tribunal is in effect that every attemp'
nv force. threat or intimidation 70 oe-
Ter or control an employer In the oe
.ermination OF what persons he VIII en-
nIov what wages he will pay or "ha'
rules OF business he will adopt Is al
,nlawful act, and all combinations Tor
luch purposes are unla"lui, ana ing
parties thereto are liable 70 cri'niiia'
prosecution. In short, every combination
~ individuals made for the purpoTe OF
I, wantom and unprovoked interference
With tho business OF another person IL
unlawful and will be punished and re-
,trained by the criminal law as being
rulnous TO the business OF the corn
munity and destructive OF tho peace ann
good order OF society. 1t Is enough II
The persons combine together to injure
~. h,,aness OF another No overt act is
necessary to he committed. The COM
bination for the unlawful purpose Is the
sStms.
THE LAW OF RIOT.
have deemed It proper to call your at
tention to this branch OF the law. IN We"
Of the fact that charges have been made
through the public press that such state
of affairs exists in the city OF Rich
mond II 1t be so. let the law reach
mt It's arm and stop 1t at once. Nothing
IS more wholesome to DISTURBED pony
polite than n prompt and vigorous 40
minstration OF the law.
The next subject to which your atteIi'
ton is called is the law OF riot The re-
can't occurrences in our city nave zen
disgra ceful to the last degree we arc
brought snuarely face TO face With the
question. Sha Ii the law-breakers and law
defiers control our city or shall 1t be
governed by the laws OF the land. Who is
to blame for this state OF affairs! VINO
has Inst!gated this lawless outbreak and
who has melted the people to riot u
should be your duty to find out TINS II
possible. for he who causes the OUTBREAK
is more guilty than the excited crowd
deed. for lawful purposes,
riot Is thus defined: a tumultuous
meeting OF three or more persons "hc
actually do an unlawful act with violence
or even lawful act in violent ana tu-
multuous manner. which Is calculated &c
excite public terror. There are no acces.
series In riot, all are principals. When
person sees others engaged in acts of
violence. Joins In and assists them, he II
as much amenable as II he had originally
assembled for the purposes. and whoever
encourages or procures. or takes part
IN a riot either by words. gestures. In
.endiary speeches. exhibition Of firearms
or any conduct of any kind whatsoever
tending TO countenance or assist the
rioters is guilty. Thus, II murder Is com
mitted by one, all are guilty OF murder:
II a dwelling house is injured or a serious
Injury Is done to the person OF another,
all are liable to confinement in the peni-
Tertiary.
! caution you. gentlemen. that You have
nothing to do with the private business
nuarrels between employer and employee.
1t is only when individual rights arc
sought to be enforced In a manner which
causes danger to the public peace that
the subject becomes a matter OF public
concern.
No man, no body OF men no corporation
has right to enforce his or their IN.
dvidual rights to the terror OF the State.
This law is the safeguard Of society. the
guardian of our civilization.
Tho writs of the Commonwealth are ut
your disposal, and the officers are ready
10 give you any assistance which you may
desire. But the public demands that
thorough investigation be made into the
matters-an investigation without fear.
favor or prejudice The sooner ne law
brushes out thlsi la wless spirit the better
for the Commonwealth.
There can he no safety for either per-
sons or property where aught but the
law prevails.
GIVEN A RECESS,
The charge was regarded as very
able one by lawyers and laymen In the
courtroom. and when the jury had re-
rorted they brought in nuribefsof true