The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-23
NO TIME To LOSE.
Petitions for a Grand Jury Must
Soon Be Ready.
Limit for Their Presentation Is
Nov. 80.
CLEAR ATMOSPHERE.
Would Be a Menace to RAscals
Says Mr.. B0nebrake.
Innocent Men Would Have Moth
ing to Fear.
ATMOSPHERE.

If a grand jury. is to be called in
Shawnee county to investigate the
state house frauds the petition, signed
by at least 400 taxpayers, must be pre-
sented to Judge Hazen of the district
court by November 29.
The law requires that a petition CALI
ing for a grand jury in Shawnee coun-
ty must be signed by at least 400 tax
payers and be presented to the Judge
of the district court at least 40 days
before the beginning of the term of
the court during which the jury shall
be in session.
The next term of the district court
is the January term, which begins the
second Monday in January. The sec
ond Monday is January 8. There are 3 L
days in December, eight days in jan
uary before the opening of the term.
and one day in November will make
the required 40 days.
Judge Hazen announced some time
ago that if a proper petition was pre-
sented to him he would at once sum-
mon the grand jury to be drawn to be
in session at the January term. Judge
Hazen said this morning: when a
petition signed by 400 taxpayers OF
shawnee county calling for a grand
jury is presented to me 1 will at once
call the grand jury"
Inc WOulQ De IN SESSION.
as long as would be necessary and
would then be dismissed. While w. Z.
Sterne was senator from Shawnee
county he introduced bill, which be-
came law, that when the judge Of
the court is satisfied that there is no
further work for the grand jury he
can dismiss the jury from further at
tendance upon court. The last grand
jury in Shawnee county was in session
at the January term of the district
court, 1895, and Sam Kerr was fore-
man of the jury.
The sentiment is in favor of grand
jury. An idea of the sentiment of the
public can be gained from the following
interviews, selected at random. One
man who was asked what he thought
of a grand jury was considerably on the
fence and did not know whether he
thought there should be one or shouldn't
be one. Another man thought a grand
jury would be good thing If it devo-
ted its time exclusively to the prohibt-
tory law. A grand jury might get at
the facts in the Nickum murder case
w. A. S. Bird said: "A grand jury is
an expensive luxury but some times a
necessity for purifying the atmosphere.
The air now needs publication"
j. ]. Schenck said: IF there was ever
an OppOrtune time for a grand Jury il
is now. The opportunity is ripe for
County Attorney Hungate to make a
cleaning up equal to the cleaning made
by District Attorney Folk in Missouri
| believe a grand jury would reveal
was shown in Missouri
H. @. Larimer said: Il am in favor
of a grand jury all the time. 1t is the
proper way to conduct prosecutions"
DR.. L. H. Mum said: Grand juries
are expensive but if the state officials
do nothing then perhaps we better have
a grand jury"
Frank Thomas said: 1--WE have use
for a grand jury but will the grand
jury be tampered with? When 1 say
that L mean all the word implies. If the
grand jury is not packed nor tampered
with the people will get justice. Tam
way for the guilty ones to escape"
c. D. Welch said: "A grand jury
would be a good thing and will hurt no
one who is innocent"
John E. Frost said: "A grand jury is
a good thing. There is so much talk n
grand jury would be able to find out
what there is that is evidence"
H. c. Bowman said: IF a grand jury
will result in a general cleaning up it
would be a good thing"
P. 1. Bonebrake said: Il am in favor
of a grand jury. 1t would be a menaca
to all rascals and tend to repress
them"
]. c. Holland said: IF a mans skirts
are clean he ought to be glad of a
chance for vindication before a grand
Jury Seems to me the conditions are
right for a grand jury as it will not
hurt anyone who is innocent and ought
to catch the guilty. The Republican
party pledges the enforcement OF law
and now is the time for the Republican
county administration to keep that
Rev. f. E. Mallory said: "A grand
Jury would be a splendid thing and is
just what we need. Things need look
ing into"
Matt Campbell said: 81 wouldn't be
surprised if a grand jury would be a
good thing"