The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-05
JURY IS CHARGED
 BY JUDGE GREENE Grand Jury Will Enter Into h.
 vestlgatIons Today GU1ItS ARE EMPHASIZED
Jury Must Consider Criminal Cases in Relation to Community at Large. Not According to
 Feeling.

sworn in yesterday morning, and after re- ceiving the charge from Judge Daniel A. Greene. senior judge of the crim- inal court. adjourned until this morn | ing.
 The grand jury Is composed of the fol-
 lowing:
 1 J. D. Nolan. T. W. Huffman, J. B.
 Messer E. R. Dickerson, w. A. Will l Hams, T. E. Turner J. H. Cole. George
 O Jones. o. H. Taylor. J. W. Myrick, J.
 D. Camp, John Bivins, c. c. Stamps, w. A. MeClain, John B. Burke, T. R. Cargile,
 Frank w. Lyle, and W. L. Burford.
 The members of the jury were sworn
 in by Chief Deputy Criminal Clerk John
 P. Abbott J. T. Reeves was sworn in
 as bailiff and Jack stallings as stenog-
 rapher.
 Judge Greenes charge to the jury in
 which he emphasized the importance of
 their investigations, and urged them to l endeavor to the best of their ability to
 deal out justice in every instance, is as l follows:
 1 "Gentemen-The grand jury as the in- | quisitorial department in the administra- l ton of law has duties no less clearly
 marked than important. and in the exer-
 else of those duties there Is demanded l intelligence, impartiality and integrity. l While you are charged with the in stitution of prosecutions for crime, and
 under ordinary circumstances are not l to consider any defense that may be set
 up by the defendant, nevertheless, in
 your investigations you should bear in
 mind that the only purpose of the law | ;, ha and welfare Of
 society, protect the individual citizen in his rights. and seek only to punish those
 who are clearly guilty of infringing upon
 either, and in no instance is it to be made
 tho instrument to satisfy private malice
 or to wreak personal vengeance.
 .1 have come to the conclusion that one
 reason of the laxity of our criminal
 law is that we look at 1t from purely personal standpoint and consider the crime charged not in relation to its ef-
 feet upon the community at large, but almost entirely from our regard for the l defendant, or the party injured, and our estimate of their character and standing. 1 Hence. too often law Is administered l through personal sympathy and personal 1 feeling. We should punish the crime,
 without regard to the criminal. and when
 this Is done we will find more whole
 some respect for the law, and fewer vio- | latlOnS thereon. ReSpectaDlllly Ol tHS lH-
 dividual can never lessen the seriousness
 and wrong of a criminal act, and should
 not shield from punishment.
 The Oath.
 aThe oath taken by your foreman and I affirmed by each of you, succinctly but | comprehensively expresses the general l characters of your duties and the manner
 of their discharge.
 | t.First-That you will diligently inquire and true presentment make of all indict- able offenses, etc.
 "Second-That the states counsel your l fellows, and your own, you should keep 1 secret.
 "Third-That you shufl present no person
 from envy, hatred, or malice nor leave
 any oae unpresented from fear, affection. I reward or tha hope thereof.
 "Fourth-That you shall present all
 things truly. as they come to your know ledge, to the best of your understand | ing
 Tn the exercise of your duties you are
 supreme-subject to only such limitations
 as the laws may prescribe to secure the legal and efficient dispatch of busi-
 ness Therefore the responsibility rests upon you to discharge your imposed
 duties honestly. carefully and impartially, I always having due regard for the majesty | of the law, the welfare and good order 1 of society and the rights of the individual | citizen.
 ..,rhe character of the duties devolving 1 upon you are two-fod and of equal i'm l portance.
 T. To investigate the sufficiency of all official bonds, e1e examination of all coun- l ty offices and institutions; the general ad- | ministration of the conduct and duties l of such offiA as /id institutions, making l such recommendations as you think prop | CT and in case of any misfeasance or mal-
 feasance to take such proceedings as | the law may demand ana the circum- 1 stances require.
 70 The investigation of violations of l the law and the presentment of such l cases where the evidence shows the l guilt of the party charged.
 l Among the first class of your duties 1 you are required to make personal in l spection of the county jail in regard to l its sufficiency for the safe-keeping of l prisoners. their accommodation and health and to inquire into the manner I in which the same has been kept since 1 the last term of court. You are further required to examine | into the condition of the county treas | ury. and the bonds of all county of- l ficers, with regard to their correctness I and sufficlency, and to report upon same. .It is the duty of the sheriff to de-
  l ters his accounts with the state for l feeding prisoners, and you are required to l inquire into the correctness of such ac- | counts since the session of the preceding 1 grand jury. 'Tt is the duty of the solicitor and | the grand jury to examine the fee book l of the probate judge and ascertain If | Illegal fees have been corruptly received and also to examine the books and papers | of the county superintendent of educa- | ton.
 You. gentlemen, are charged with the | general supervision of the administration 1 of all county affairs institutions, and | enterprises, to see that the same are con l make suggestions as to any desirable | changes therein, and if any corruption, | or the use of any improper or illegal
 method in any of them should come to 1 your knowledge it will be your duty to | adopt such measures to rectify the evil, as l your own sound judgment may dictate. l Tn the discharge of these several duties
 you are entitled to free access at all l proper hours to the county jail, and to | fbe office of the county treasurer and | to the examination without charge of all | records and other papers in any of the | county offices connected in any way with l their duties. Investigation of Crime. | "The next class of your duties is the l investigation of crime and the present. ment of all persons, who may be shown ...tlax.oa t1 ha u,,f1tv n ha vino xrto