The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-03-24
MARCH TERM CIRCUIT
COURT IN SESSION.
MIR. John E. Gnagey. of Accident. Is
Foreman Of the Grand Jury.
JUDGE R. R. HENDERSON's CHARGE
To that Bodywas Delivered in a Force
full Manner-The Court Paid Es-
pecial Attention to the Condition
of the Public Buildings.

The March term of the Circuit
Court for Garrett county commenced
on Monday morning with Associate
Judge Robert r. Henderson, of Cum
berland, on the bench. Mr.. John T..
Gnagey, of Accident, was appointed
foreman of the grand jury and the
grand inquest was then charged by
Judge Henderson, and entered upon
its duties.
Gentlemen Of the GrGnd Jury -
You have been selected by the Court,
in accordance with law, from amongst
the citizens of your county to serve
upon the grand inquest of the State
for the body of Garrett county. The
large body from which your selection
as grand jurors has been determined
by lot, were selected with special ref
erence to intelligence, sobriety and
integrity. The duties you haye to
perform and the privileges you enjoy
are sanctioned by long usage amongst
Anglo-Saxon races, and securely en-
shrined in the respect OF a awabid-
ing people. 1t is, therefore, an honor
to be a grand juror of county like
this, for you are very important
branch of the machinery by which
the administration of law is enforced.
RY1f tho hnnnr oil hnnnrS do in
wolves high and serious duties and it
is to these especially that the Court
desires to direct your attention. An
expel fence of several years at the bar
has convinced me that courts can add
little to the exact, comprehensive and
solemn terms of your oath in an at
tempt to emphasize your duties. II
you have taken that high obligation
in the spirit and with the full mental
comprehension and acquiescence in
which it is intended to be taken, nc
words OF mine can add to it. If you
have failed to grasp its meaning q
mistake has been made in your selec,
, ton: but | have no fear that such is
the case. You will approach the per
! Torrance of your duties, therefore
with that entire absence of fear OF
expectatitn of favor and with that
/ unprecedented poise of mind which
your oaths prescribe, and conduct
your Investigations with the inviola
BILE secrecy which is one Of the most
important of your promises.
Upon you rests the decision of the
question as to whether any of your
fellow citizens or others are to be
brought to the bar of this Court tc
face criminal charges. This is not al
agreeable duty, but it is very neces
sary one. You hear but one side Of
the case, that of the prosecutor. II
may well be that there may be some
explanation of discriminating facts, OIL
| that the suspected person hasa gooC
defence Do not concern yourself
with it. 1t is no part of your duty to
anticipate the defence. If you. are
satisfied that the evidence before yor
ustifies an Indictment, then find one
The test of the sufficiency of evidence
to justify an indictment is that if yor
yourselves, sitting as a petit jury
and hearing no other evidenc,
than that pronounced before you as ;
grand jury would convict, then fine
the. Indictment, but if you would
acuuit then it will be a useless ex
pense upon the county and a grea
hardship and injustice to the accused
to proceed further. This simple rul
will relieve you of all difficulty ant
even if persons afterward proved t
be innocent are indicted the fault will
not lie with YOU.
If any of you violates the obligation
of secrecy this will constitute al
offense which will be punishable a
a contempt of court and will subjec
you likewise to indictment. 1t is no
for you to Judge whether your pro
ceedings or any of them may be di
vulged without danger. Your oatl
| is to keep them all secret, and if an,
leakage of information from you
body comes to the attention of tn
court, summary action will follow
Your obligation to secrecy is not dis
charged when you are discharged a
grand jurors but continues forever
II any one approaches you to discove
any of your secrets this, too, is al
offense, and should be brought b.
you at once to the attention of tn
court.
When you go to your room yo
would better organize by choosin
one or two clerks, to keep a docket o