The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-04-11
DICKERSON'S
INSTRUCTIONS
THE JUDGE DELIVERS A STRONG
CHARGE TOTHE GRAND JURY
SPEAKS OUT VERY
PLAINLY.
ON GAMBLING AND LIQUOR
Questions and Bids the Jury to De Its
Sworn Duty.

GENTLEMES OF THE GRAND JURY:
The law imposes the obligation
upon me, as the designated officer
of the Court, to give you your in
structions. The grand jury sys-
tenn is so old, it has been SO thor
oughly tried, that ever citizen is
aware Of its meaning and is familiar
with all Of its workings. The sys-
tenn has a peculiar significance in
this Territory; because the lack of
government here, because through
the grand jury system and the
courts is all the government we
have. We have, therefore, a great
er responsibility as Courts and as
officers than in place where the
local government has control and
management of local affairs. The
people look to the courts for better
service, and the courts owe it to
the people TO give the very best
service that is possible to give.
1t is great complement to be Sc
lected as grand juror or as petit
juror, or any other officer of the
court. because the law has thrown
such restrictions around those par
ticular officers that only men Of
character can find their way to such
offices. In the first place the jury
commissioners are so carefully Sc
lected on account of the character
of the three men, and then they are
so carefully instructed that only
men of the community must De Sc
lected for this important duty. II
is impossible at any time for felony
to be prosecuted except through
you. gentleman. 1t is impossible
for many of the crimes not felonies
to be properly investigated except
through the grand jury system,
This is true because Of many inter
esis.
/, therefore, at the beginning
charge you that it matters not how
small the crime or charge may bs
that is brought before you. or how
great, give it that careful attention
that you wuold your own personal
business affairs. Sometimes very
small offense, or one which seems
small to us as indivuals, means a
great deal to the citizen who is
interested and to the welfare oi
that immediate community in which
they live. For example; you some.
times would hardly think that
some poor woman's troubls, posi-
bly, with her husband, complaining
Of being whipped and beaten,
would be of great interest to the
community or that should spend
much money on it, yet it is often
the very source Of a great deal Of
trouble in the community. The
interest of each individual, it mat
tiers not their positionin life, is ol
as much interest TO the government
as that Of any other individual
whether in the humblest home oi
in the most Influential home in this
or any other community. There
fore we pause at this time to inves.
tigate every violation Of law.
Your meetings are secret; the
witnessness are sworn to secrecy
The proceedings before you mus
not be devulged to the public. The
most sacred obligation is taken
that they will remain secret IL
order that the weak aud the frai
may come before you and tell theil
stories withoutbeing crushed, wher
they get out, by the strong anC
the vicious. II has been held fol
many years that this is wise, and /
has been proven so. For many
person. not through envy or re
venge, have placed their LITTLE
troubles before their fellow men
under the sworn secrecy of thu
grand jury room, and they have
been righted, whereas otherwis'
lthey could not have done so.
The law makes it my specia
duty to Charge the grand Ejur.