The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-19
Grand Jury Vigorously Charged
 by Judge Miller
TOO MANY PISTOL 1OTERS
6Iind-Tieer Keepers, .Pistol-Toters and Life-Destroyers Are Growing Menaces to County's We'll.
 being.

Wise, John Rollins J. A. Wood, Thomas J. Traylor G. w. Martin L. P McCurdy, Thomas G. Milling, J. c. Moore, W. H. Thomas, A H. Wilmington. Max Sulz- bacher. Irving Smith, Y B. Welch, Wash w. B. Berry.
 Forfeitures of s1OO each were taken against seven citizens who failed to re- spond when their names were called.
 Rev. W. D. Spurlin of Demopolis, who is filling Rev. A. A. Littles pulpit in the city during the latter's illness, opened the court with prayer.
 Judge Millers charge to the grand jury was delivered in a most earnest manner, and he had the closest atten- tion of jurors and spectators for over an hour.
 Judge Miler's Charge.
 He paid his compliments to the citi- zens who took advantage of their ex- emption from jury duty and then were the first to complain of the laws not be- ing enforced and of lawlessness being rampant.
 Judge Miller likened the conditions In this county to a province besieged by brigade, which was at the gates. This regiment was composed of three regi- ments. These were the regiments Of "blind tiger" keepers, concealed pistol toters and life destroyers. He took up each of the evils and pointed out clearly the duty of the grand jury in the prem ises He stated that if you put a con cealed weapon in the hand of man filled with blind tiger whisky he would be given the road, for life Is sweet to every man.
 If you but break up blind tigers and the pernicious habit of carrying concealed pistols in Dallas county" said the judge, "you will have done your full duty ana served your country well. Those who come after you will call you blessed.
 Judge Miller then took up the life de- stroyers, calling attention to the honi- cides of the country. He presented hg- ures to show that year by year the per centage of those punished in comparison to the number of homicides committed was increasing alarmingly Twenty years ago there was one person convicted Tor every eighteen homicides committed, ac- cording to the government figures Last year there was only one conviction out of every seventy-three homicides.
 Disregard of Human Life.
 .oThe sin of the nation, the sin of the state. the sin of the fourth judicial cir cult of Dallas county" declared the judge, Ifs the disregard of human life. IT your barn is burned the grand jury Will re- turn an indictment and the petit Jury next week will enter conviction on the records. If you go down the road tnis evening and meet man and enter lnto an argument with him, ending in a few sharp words, the man fancies he IS ln- suited out comes a weapon rom ms hin pocket and you are killed, Will the grand jury tomorrow find a true bill against the man that did the Killing! will the petit jury next week ma nm guilty?
 If your house is broken open and the evidence is brought to the grand jury an indictment is found and the petit jury following fixes the punishment. If you killed tonight will the grand jury tomor- row find true bill? Will the petit jury return a verdict of guilty? You can de- stroy my barn you can steal my prop erty, but my life, no man can replace Life the dearest sweetest thing to men, is held in less regard than his barn or his property. Why Is this? It is because grand iuries do not do their duty. It is because public sentiment is right on the matter of property, but not on the mat ter of the taking of life. The safe plan IS for you to indict every man who kills an- other. and you can always put IL down that when friends coming hanging around the grand jury room striving to prevent an dictment that the guilty person IS afraid for the sunlight of truth to be turned upon his acts
 'The constitution names as the inalien- able rights of man, life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness and leaves property rights for the law to provide for. The con- stitution puts life first and property last We have come to putting property first and life last"
 Go After Big Fellows.
 The judge concluded his charge by telling the grand jury that in battle one would not turn his shots on the prlvates when the generals, colonels, captains and lieutenants were in front and in full view, that a school teacher who would whip small boy of seven and tell the big boy of eighteen not to do wrong any more when both had committed the same of- fense would not hold the respect of either scholars or parents.
 Don't stultify yourself, gentlemen of the grand jury said the Judge, "by in dieting the prvates and corporals, when the captains, colonels and generals are in front and in full view. You return truo bills agaist the big violators and the lit- tie ones will take to the woods. If a man has a barrel or whisky In nlS store and sells a half pint to tramp and the tramp goes down the road and sells a drink to a negro for a dime. don't in- dict the tramp, indict the man with the barrel. I believe in punishng the man with the barrel first and then the man with the tin cup If you indict the little fellow, the private and the corporal, and let the generals and colonels go. believe you have a solicitor who Is man enough to come into court and ask for a nole prosse of the indictment and I will cer% tainly grant it."
 Younq Man Shot.
 Will Holt. son of Policeman W. L. Holt, was shot by a negro. Will Colline by name, at an early hour yesterday morn ing The negro was on Frank Fishers s hack, which had transported the young man and some companions. An argument as to the fare occurred and Collins, when about fifty yeards away, after Fisher had driven off, fired at MT. Holt, the ball passing through his clothing and breaking the skin. When he was carried to his room and his clothes removed the ball fell out. Collins was sought by the po- lice yesterday afternoon, it being thought that he was at Baker switch about mile east of the city. When Officers Walker and Latham neared the coal shute at the switch form darted away across the fields making for the woods. The officers followed. firing in the hope of stopping the fleeing form, but were unsuccessful. It transpired that the flee ing man was young white man wanted on another charge by the authorities and not Collins. He made good his escape,