The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-07

The Grand Jury of Montgomery County was yesterday organized and began work for the July term of the criminal oivis- ion of the City Court of Montgomery.
 Charles L. Gay, well known planter. was appointed foreman of the jury by Judge Thomas.
 Court convened at noon in the east court rom The following jurors answer ed to their names and after MT. Gay had ben sworn as foreman took the oath or A grand juror. F. G. Browder. w. J. Supple, w. J. Drum, H. c. Sandersont P. A. Travis, F. V. Battle, J. c. Chestnut. D. A. Dickey, W. NJ. Teague. w. A. Brown, George D. Noble, J. L. Blakey, John Mizell, J. NJ. Stuckey and Charles R. Ashley.
 The oath was administered by H. H. Matthews, clerk of the court.
 Judge w. H. Thomas, presiding over the court, then delivered his charge and the jurors retired to the grand Jury room, where for the next ten days or two weeks, they will investigate criminal con ditions in Montgomery County.
 In opening his charge to the grand jury Judge Thomas as Is his custom, dwelt upon the obligation of an oath. He spoke of undue influence of jurors and indirect violations of duty. He advised the jury as to its duty in returning true bills.
 Then Judge Thomas continuing called attention to the increasing number of homicides. saying:
 "The desire to impress upon you the true status as to homicide Is my apology for speaking plainly on that subject With pleasure I state that Montgomery County is no worse than a large portion of our country. have heretofore giver comparative tables of the rate of homi eide in the different States, to show tha' 1t was the terrible result of condition: rooted in a peoples standard of honor which experience has made a public optn ion directing and restraining the enforce ment of law. That this is true with u' cannot be doubted.
 q now submit an interesting compar ison of the number of homicides in thu United States for 8 period of three year. with the report of killings on American railways, and to that of casualties In th' British army in South Africa, during thu war, which, 1t will be remembered, last ed nearly three years: Killed on American railways, thre' years endAuSg June 30, 1900. 2l,SH.
 Killed (British forces) during Soutl African war. including death from dis ease. 22000.
 ''Homicides (three times the number for one year, 10.465). 1895.
 "A sad reflection. that in this land O the free and home of the brave. with it vast commercial intercourse. the average citizen Is in more danger of being mur dered than killed by railway accident And yet many of us. to Journey by rail take the precautionary accident ticket not knowing that our security has beer increased one-third by going away from home and business. And just here will remark, the comparison has long beer with England against the United States Tn 1893, 1t was said that out of every 1000 deaths in England, seven are murders out of every 10000 in the United States twenty-one are murders
 Retreat No Cowardly Doctrine.
 "It should humble our national pride tC be told that, with the exception of ItalI and Spain. the proportions of murder tt deaths in the United States Is not exceed Nor Is 1t any defense for Alabama to re ply that other sections are equally guilty and that of the States and Territorie nine are more shamefully disgraced. We need to condemn and punish tha silly sentiment that avenges woundet honor or fancied insult by the fatal blov or murderous shot. To condone 1t Is t cheapen human life. The law of Ala bama says the doctrine of retreat is n cowardly doctrine (S7 Ala, 6). and if thi rule be learned and observed, 1t must al minish the rate of homicide. In the elo Quent language of Rabbi A. J. Messing
 The hip-pocket habit is the gravest i'm peachment of the intelligence of any pec pie. Men of culture submit thei
 differences to arbitration. When thei
 honor is assailed, they maintain sllenc,
 and this Is their surest vindicaton.
 None can expect to vindicate his homo
 by shooting down his detractor.
 T then ask you. gentlemen. can 1t
 said that a man Is cowardly If he b
 brave enough to restrain his passion a
 commanded by the highest law of moral
 and of his State? Does the rate of hon
 icide tell of too many towards who sQugt
 unfair advantage of their fellovman, an
 largely by the same rate tell of too fe
 brave men obeying the law of God an
 man. We must know that lack of re,
 erencc for human life is more benefci,