The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-12-08

The giving of bonuses by Owosso to
its largest and most successful and sat
isfactory factories may be inquired into
and it is also said number of Owosso
matters, such as hose buying, paving,
ETC.. will be asked about.
The charge of Judge Weist follows
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury for
Shiawassee County.
BY virtue of the law of this state.
you have been selected, summoned,
accepted and sworn as grand jurors,
and as the judge of this court it is
now my duty to give you some in
structions regarding your duties while
serving this court as grand jurors.
No higher duty ever comes to a citi.
zen than that of assisting the court In
the administration of the law, and no
higher duty has ever devolved upon
you gentlemen than that exacted now
while attending and serving this court
as grand jurors.
With due sense OF responsibility
to your oath, your conscience and
your fellow citizens you must ap.
proaoh the duties Of your position,
with fearless determination to hew
to the line, for any deviation from
the line of duty will render your
work unsatisfactory to yourselves and
your honor, intolerable to the law,
and q disgrace to the administration
of the law by free men in this county.
You are to make grand inquisition
and thorough investigation into
matters in this county. animated by
the resolve to get at the truth, and
make a fearless determination upon
such matters as may come before you
as grand jurors.
Upon the one hand you are to let no
man who has violated the law and
who should be brought to trial for his
offense escape, while upon the other
hand you are to see to it that no inno-
cent man is put to trial.
At this moment you agree to lay
aside all political utilization or thought
of party interest, for the man who
enters upon the solemn duty you have
now assumed, with political party or
individual political interest at heart is
q perjurer and full fair and impartial
official action cannot be expected from
him.
The ties Of religious association. Of
lodge, of business and of friendship
are all to be left outside of the door
to the jury room, and upon your oath
and your conscience and the proof
heard you are to examine and true
finding make upon the question as
whether crime has been committed,
no matter whether such finding in
culpases your best friend or exculpates
your worst enemy.
In your jnry room you examine
whether crime has been committed,
and in case you find crime has been
committed and know from the proof
who committed the same, your duty
chen is so clear that need spend no
time In advising you to perform it, for
it would be in effect only advising
you to respect your oath.
You are not to be swayed in tho
performance of your duty by any in
fuence outside of the evidence and
the law, you are to ascertain whether
the law has been violated by others
and therefore you must abide by the
law.
Public opinion may err or be true
uoy are not concerned with 1t.
Private ipteress may lead to fac.
5ional cling you are not concerned
with it.
Your duty rests higher than to be
moved by passion, prejud ice, desire
to please or fear OF offending.
Yon are to stand as shield to the
innocent and as jurors see to it that
~ the law are