The leader., 1904-05-25
LINCOLN CIRCUIT COURT
STRONG CHARGE 10 GRAND JURY
BY JUDGE n. VI. WILKINSON

Bf JUDGE \. ". WILKINSON
GRAND Jury is HARD AT WORK
List Of Cases Disposed Of and Courl
News In General
We are indebted to our friend
i Marshall Mccullough, for this
| fnlI report of Circuit Court do
lings.
| The Circuit Court of Lincoln
county was convened Monday
lmorning at 10 o'clock. Hon. III.
I'M. Wilkinson Judge, J.. b.
Webb, District Attorney, and Ike
Fox, Stenographer, along with all
Eof the county officers, we're pre-
isent to be greeted when court
fopened with crowded court
house. There was barely stand
ling room, SO many people were
Epresent.
When the Sheriff had opened
court in the regular manner,
Judge Wilkinson announced that
lin his court there would be no
smoking, and that no whispering
Tor talking would be allowed by
anybody except by attorneys and
others actually engaged in the tri-
al OF the cases. Immediately the
house became quiet and the Sher-
liff proceeded to call his yenire.
The Grand Jury was drawn in the
regular way, empaneled, and
sworn with Mr.. A. B. Middleton
as Foreman.
In his charge to the Grand Ju-
ry Judge Wilkinson grew eloquent
when he touched upon certain
kinds of lawlessness prevalent in
Lincoln county. All those guilty
of the crimes usually committed
received their due portion from
the, Judge, but the whitecaps,
blind tigers, were they present,
certainly got full measure of what
is thought of them by the Judge
of the Sixth judicial District of
Mississippi. He said, in sub
stance, that it is necessary that
the court instruct the county
officers as to their duties in open
court and that it is the duty Of
the grand jury to investigate the
business of each county officer,
that the grand jury would do well
to begin their work by shaking
up the officers about the court
house. He spoke at length con-
Icerning the office of sheriff. He
is the county conseryator of Che
peace whose duty it is to keep the
peace, to dispell all unlawful as
semblies, arrest criminals, wait
on the courts, put down ARRAYS.
That three counties in Mississip-
pi, namely Amite, Franklin, and
Lincoln, had had incompetent in
efficient, unfit, and dishonest sher-
IFS, and that the grand jury
should thoroughly investigate the
business of the county sheriff re-
Igarding not only what has been
done in the Office, but regarding
what had not been done and should
have been done. The circuit
clerk, chancery clerk, assessor,
coroner and ranger, and treasur-
er came in for their part Of his
charge. The county superinten-
dent of education in some coun-
ties of the State have paid out
the counties money illegally and
had been indicted. The grand
jury should give this office sift-
ing. The Board of Supervisors,
the county law makers who are
the business managers Of the coun-
ty should be held to strict account
and should not be interested. di-
rectly or indirectly, in any con-
tract with the county. If the
Board has paid out any money
from the treasury without author.
lity Of law they should be indict-
led. A great many Justices of the
peace are incompetent and unfit
for their positions. If the grand
jury can find such in Lincoln
county they should indlct such,
bring them before the court and
have them discharged.
The court is stranger to the
members of the grand jury, but
I his charge in regard to whitecap-
ping would be the same though he
were acquainted with eyery one.
Your oath as jurors impelis you
80 investigate thoroughly this
kind of fragrant lawlessness. No
man should be shielded or be-
Ifriended. This county IS known
| far and wide as whitecap coun-
ity even from Dan to Beersheba.
Pitiable it is beyond understands
ing that the counties citizenship
lshouid sink so low as to allow
lsnch crime within her borders.
You people know who these
Iwhitecaps are, too. You know
when your neighbor kills a beef
land YOU know when he has steak
/ enp tk,roa 3 eac& 1 IT,. zs