The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-03-16

CIRCUIT COURT in SESSION
GRAND JURY AT WORK

Ual SUD u
The March term Of the circuit
court was openedby Judge Charles
W. Lynch at ten O'clock this morn l
ing The imnaneling Of the grand |
urjy and charge given, by the court |
the morning hour.
Judge Lynchsin his charge went |
fully into the fundamental princi7
pies on which the grand jury system
is based. pointing. out the .placcSin.
the administration of Justice occu-
pied by the grand jury and IFS PEI \
culiar duty in The enforcement of !,
law and bringing criminals TO JUS
tice.
Emphasis was laid upon the duty.
OF the grand jury TO preserve abso-
lute secrecy as to all matters colr-
ing before them, No one IS entit-
led to know or has any right to know
that transpires in your
sessions. The contumacious and
eyasive witnesses were next touched
upon. and a method pointed out BY
which they could be compelled g
answer.
Ofioffcnses that might come hcieTe
tlrm the highest We're oifeli-s
against the person murder, ma :
| Ing and assault, as treason alone Is, Z
higher offcnse, and no case Of traasa'n
/ % far rs can be recalled has ar a
lin our state. Intention was GALE
10 the statutes defining the several
crininal acts, andclassifying the diff
fersnti degrees Of murder. Atten-
ton was ciflled 10 the reports pub
ilished in the locSl papers TINT. the.
body of an infant child was found
in a fence corner by the roadside.
The jury were asked to make a,fHll
Investigation Of this report. and #
itappcared thatihe life Of that chile,
had been taken, and the perseilsin-
stTmnental in the crilpe identilied;.
he shoald be dllly,.proseeptcd.
ABORTION was defined and atten-
zion Of the ilrays Was called TO the
sfsct that this heinouss oiiense had
Unfortunately occurred in this.
county,. ANY person offending in
thu particular should be brought 10
account.
Manning, robbery, biackmail. alb
duction for purposes Of eXtorticn,
rape, and prostitution were defined,
and tile duty Of the court to punish
for these offenses was set forth.
The duty of railroad companies to
keep the doors Of passenger cars un-
locked while occupied and in mo-
ton: the offense Of dueling or send
ing and accepting challenge; arson
Ior the wilful destruction OF proper
ty, or destruction Of property to se-
cure insurance on the same; burg
larry, larceny, enlightenment and var
ious other crimes against the person
and property were pointed out, and
the duty and manner of bringing of
tenders to justice for any of these
crimes were explained. si4
Particular attention was called To-
1.-THE crime of false.swearing and per-
1juN. The custom of carrying
Weapons was condemned. His. hon
Tor referred to the prevalence of the
.lcrime of carrying revolvers and stat
lea he would not hazard guess Of
lhow man, such weapons would be
Hound IL every person in the court
room were searched, but expressed
khe hope that none would be found in
the grand jury panel s y.~
The attention If the jury was
called to the ofense of keeping
house Of ill-fame, and it was point
edout that the statute was, accord
ling to all reports, openly violated in
Clarksburg. That it was not only
well known that houses of ill-fame
existed in Clarksburg, but that these
houses were Literally patronized by 1
people who ought to dcport them
selves better. The court condemned
1.-The doctrine that these houses were
necessary evil. 1tlplaced man on q
lleyel below the brute creation.
Cruelty to animals in ~ various
phases was defined and the fact that |
such an offense was inexcusable, and
perhaps too prevalent, was called to |
the attention of the grand jury.
The sale of intoxicating liquors
without license and the penalties
for this, as well as the sales Of such
liquors in violation Of his License by |
a licensed vendor, was discussed and
prevalence of this class of offense
was dweIt upon, and the jury adj
TO investigate conditions
in the county.
Following is the list Of grand |
Jurors as sworn and eInpaneled:
49,