The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-16
The GRAND JURY
TO INVESTIGATE
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS.
SUNDAY DISSERTATION AND GAM
BLING HAS BEEN CHARGED.

Grand Jury Directed Officers OF
Court to Serve SubPOenae on Wit
nesses Whose Names Were Fur
nished by Rev. W. A. Nisbet-Mr.
Nisbet Himself N Witness-FOrmer
Grand Juror to BE Served-PrOIni-
nent Real Estate Man and Two
Newspaper Men on the List.
Contrary to the announced expecta-
tions of the Ministerial Association the
grand jury will investigate the
charges of its president, Rev. w. A.
Nisbet with regard to alleged viola
tions of the laws on gaming and Sun
day violations.
This course was definitely determined
furnished by Rev.Mr. Nishbet was hand
ed to the officers of the court which in
structions to serve them with sub
poenaes. These will be served to-day
or tomorrow, ordering the witnesses
to appear before the grand jury at a
session to be held Friday afternoon.
AS far as can be learned Mr.. Nisbet
charges that. the Sabbath laws re-
garding open-saloons are being violat-
ed, not only at Thunderbolt, as he
charged in a letter to the last grand
jury, but in Savannah as well. He fur
tber charges that the laws prohibit
ing gaming are being violated.
All of this was contained in his first
communication to the present grand
Jury. This was replied to by the
foreman according to directions from
the grand jurors and to this letter
Mr.. Nisbet again replied. What the
contents of this last letter were cannot
be ascertained.
Who the witnesses Are.
In his communication Mr. Nisbet fur
nfshed a list of persons who could give
evidence, he said. of the alleged viola
lions. if summoned. There were six
names on the list, and all of these will
be called to appear before the grand
jury at its next meeting.
One of the witnesses is a prominent
real estate man. Another is a man
who has been prominent in business
and political circles for several years,
anu WIN Has SCI Ntu previously 90 -
grand Juror, serving with the last
grand jury. Two witnesses are news
paper men, one from each of the daily
papers.
Mr.. Nisbet himself is the fifth wit
ness. The sixth and last witness is
known by name, but just what he does
in Savannah, and what his occupation
is, could not be learned. These six
are the only ones whose names the
pastor furnished, and so far as known
they are all to be summoned.
MIR. Nisbet Gratified.
AS soon as it was learned that the
grand jury had ordered subpoenaes is
sued to the witnesses suggested by Mr..
Nisbet, he was notified of the action
by a Morning News reporter and ask
ed for an expression of opinion:
"I am glad they decided to investi-
gate the matter" he said and l will
do all in my power to lay the facts
before them. / am perfectly satisfied
to go before that body and will tell all
] know. I have given them the list
of witnesses and they have subpoenaed
them. If enough evidence is not now
forthcoming, to secure an Indictment
cannot say what will be done by the
association"
After the meeting of the Ministerial
Association on Monday it was stated
by several of the ministers. Mr.. Mis-
bet among them. that no action would
be taken on the matter. The belief
seemed to be that the grand jurors
would keep postponing the matter from
meeting to meeting until it was dis
charged, thus leaving the entire ques-
ton for future grand juries.
In view of this openly expressed be-
lief the prompt investigation will be
a surprise to the ministers who have
been most interested in the prosecu-
ton.