The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-04
NEW GRAND JURY
NOW ORGANIZED
STRONG CHARGE DELIVERED BY
JUDGE WEAVER-DR. LoVELADY
OF PRATT CITY is THE FORE.
MAN.

The grand jury for the April term of
the criminal court of Jefferson county
was organized yesterday morning, with
DR.. r. f. Lovelady of Pratt City as the
foreman.
The charge was delivered to the grand
Jury by Judge Samuel l.. Weaver. In part,
1t Is as follows:
Subdivisions is offenses against the
peace, and include ARRAYS, RIOTS routs
and unlawful assemblies, sending threat
ening letters, prize fighting, libel and
defamation and carrying concealed weap-
ons. The 1ast-named offense is one to
which the law requires me TO call the at
tention of the grand jury especially, and
l cannot too strongly emphasize the evils
caused by this vicious and unseemly
habit. The practice of arming ones self
with deadly weapon in an enlightened
and peaceable community is utterly with
out excuse, and merits the severest con-
tlemnation. The habit is as senseless as
1t Is Vicious and dangerous, and too often
leads to unnecessary street brawls, which
are not only a disgrace to our community,
but imperils the lives of innocent persons.
This is one misdemeanor as TO which you
have no discretion as to finding an indiot-
ment, and whenever you ascertain that
this law has been violated you must re-
turn an indictment"
Concerning the justice of peace matter
the court said
"A Staf11fp enacted nv tha Ia eft
ture)
THE law makes 1t the duty of every
justice of the peace, before whom a de-
PENDANT is tried and committed for any
public offense, not punished capitally to
inform such defendant of his right to elect
to perform hard labor for the county pend
ing trial. Each justice and notary exercis-
ing the powers of a justice is required to
render to the grand jury a statement in
writing and under oath, of the name of
each defendant charged with a INSIDE
meanor or non-capital felony committed
by him, the date of such commitment,
and whether or not he gave such de-
PENDANT information as to his right to
elect to perform hard labor. The same
statute makes 1t the duty of the sheriff
within twelve HOURS after the reception
in jail, to carry all persons similarly
charged, before the judge of probate,
who shall inform them of their right
to elect to perform hard labor and
the Shirt must make a written state
ment to you under oath, setting forth
the name of every person charged with
committing a misdemeanor or non-capital
falo it,fn NJ 1.
received such defendant, and when he
carried him before the judge of probate,
and it is also the duty of the Judge of
probate to make a similar statement to
you of the names of all persons as were
brought before him as required by this
act.
1.-The proper and literal enforcement
OF the provisions of this act is important,
both to the state and the defendant, and
| urge upon you to see that 1t is carried
out to the fullest extent. The business
of court, and the intervals between the
sessions, of the grand juries, makes it
so that anywhere from one to six months
and longer will intervene before a de-
PENDANT can get trial. Under this law he
has the option of performing hard labor
for the county, rather than be confined
In jail awaiting trial, and thereby his
actual time of imprisonment is lessened
In case of conviction and in addition to
that the state is saved the expense of
his board in jail, and with the large
number of prisoners we have in this
county, this becomes quite an important
item, and 1 rely on you to impress upon
each justice of the peace and notary
when he makes the other reports required
of him by law the necessity of observing
the requirements therein provided for
ust be made.'
The personnel of the grand jury fol-
lows:
r. +. Lovelady, foreman; Fl. A. Hor-
ton. w. C. McTeer, a. ]. Tarrant, ]. II.
Srow. T. d. Bradford, w. A. Cuttiff,
John Savage, j. G. crump, Rufus Scott,
john III. Morrow, q. T. garksdale, T. ].
Kinnon, j. R. Greene, NJ V. Henry C. C.
Truss, William Morris.
l.. f. Parks, VIII McIlhaney and T.
A Micklewight were excused.