The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-05-10
CIRCUIT
COURT
CONvENES
QUITE LIBERAL AND FAIRMINDED
CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE
GRAND JURY BY JUDGE MASON.
FEATURED 1T WITH AN ABLE Ex-
POSITION OF THE TAX QUESTION,
PRINCIPLE BEING EQUALITY.
Believes the People of Harrison County
Are Not Criminals As Some Would
Have Outsiders Beiieve-NatiOnal Gov!
eminent is Honest and Good.

The Alay term Of the circuit court OF
Harrison county convened here Tuesday
morning at ten o'clock with Judge John
W. Mason, OF Fairmont, sitting.
The opening of the term was marked
by the presence Of an unusually low
number -of attendants both as TO spec.
tators and attorneys. and some Of the
grand jurors did not respond, being busy
with their farm work and possibly some
OF thom not being eligible under the re-
quireuents OF the law, such as being
owners OF grist mills and 50 forth.
Some time was spent in filling their
places and then the Judge. delivered
trielly his charge to them.
The grand jury is comprised of Sidney
Raymond. foreman; w Swiger. John
w Williams. Boyd Allen, Frank Shut
tleworth, W. d. Bryan. c. A. Snort,
Claude Davisson, 4. W. Ftttro. 4. b.
Boegcss, y. \. McWhortcr, w. I.
Shields. John f. johnson, II, Kclso
Thompson. G. VI. Elliott and 7. rlay
Bennett.
Judge Mason in delivering the charge
called their attention 10 their own dut
les. those Of the prosecuting attorney
and of the witnesses. Tie recited to
{ them the various crimes under the laws
OF the state, and told them not to med
die with little difficulties and peGty
grievances and quarrcls that had no
significance. Among other things he
explained to them the election laws of
the state. lie also. crIled their atten-
tion 10 the laws against gambling and
the keeping of house. of ill-repute, and
other crimes. In speaking Of crime gen
orally he told them he was not one of
those who believed the world was grow
ing worse. To the contrary the nation
al government at this time was in safe
hands and under wi.e and good men.
Applying this thought to Harrison
county. he said there we're about 10000
people in the county and said he sup.
pose there We're 500 OF them incline
to violate the laws, where are The other
$4,000 people: The answer was made
by him that they were law-abiding, good
citizens.
The prominent feature Of the charge
Nvas the tax question. Among other
things he stated that he was glad to
see the people Of this state agitating the
question, as there we're needed reforms.
The point he brought outw as that
every man should make honest return
of his property and pay his just proper.
tion of the taxes. The same principle
was also applied 10 those holding special
privileges, ,uch a. franchises and licen-
ses.
In closing Judge Mason reminded the
jury of some of its duties, and, among
other things said that it used TO be
that the giving out or making public
things that transpircd nthe grand jury
room was punishable BY a fine and that
it ought to be now. He alluded TO a
case or two that happened with the past
two or three years here, in which evi.
dence and other matters in the grand
Jury room were made public and severe
Is condemned the act. and, though no
enc was named, he severely censured
them for such disrespe6T Of and con.
tempt for the court lie deems such
actions as eros. violations Of the pro
The charge, though brief. was whole
some and full Of wisdom. as j. ever The
case with charges delivered by judge
Mason.