Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-05-31
SPECIAL Term OF COURT
WAS RESUMED ON WEDNESDAY

in a county ne and property are liz
secure and Inss'e, and no man is pro-
tected.
Therefore, feeling that the public
welfare If this county WAS involved in
this charge, called You as citizens OF
your county, as the grand jury, with
unlimited rover 10 send for witnesses,
to make foil and thorough investiRs-
tion OF these charges that have been
made. -"
Now. what have said to you-l do
not mean TO intimate TO you az TO the
s,ren tn Of the evidence that is to
C me- before your body, As 10 what
evidence you will have before you,
know not that IL a matter for you to
determine, II is for you TO determine
from the evidence that shall be ad-
duced before your body, not whether
the party IL guilty beyond reasonable
doubt or nor, but whether from the
evidence direct or circumstantial that
Ia pot before your body, you believe
that there was an attempt TO cOrruptly
Influence the mind Of any grand juror
At the last term Of this court ;snI you
believe that there WAS, although the
evderce before you may be only evi-
dence on behalf Of the prosecution,
then it would be your sworn duty TO
return An indictment lnto this court,
aud upon that indictment a cspias will
Issue, and the offender be brought be.
fore the court, and an opportunity
given him to explain away the Grim.
inali,y Of the act, or TO contradict the
evidence. -"
Neither has party the right, who ia
under investigation by the grand jury,
to appear bepore your body, either in
person, or by counsel, or 10 produce
witnesses before you. But il IL his
privilege when he is brought into this
court for final trial, to be- confronted
10y the witnesses against him, and to
have the benefit OF counsel.
While 1t isA crime TO attempt to
currupt juror at common law, stillAt
common law the crime was known rs
a misdemeanor, Punishable only by
Imprisonment in the county jail or 10y
fine, bnt Legislature OF the State OF
Florida has seen Nj To raise IL from
misdemeauor and make IL felony.
pnnisheAble by imprisonment in the
State prison,
(At this point OF the charge, Judge
Wills quoted the law on the subject,
providing the fines and penalties OF
any person attempting 20 corrnpt
jurors or officials coming under lls
head.
The court instructs you, gentlemen,
that II 10 not necessary IN order to
constitute this ofiense that the jurors
should have been corruptly influenced, ,
bat the intent tn corruptly influence
the jurors il the essence ot the
crime '''
| wish to call your attention 10 the
acts and conduct " jurors during the
term ~ this court Jurors should SO
conduct themselves so a. To Cause no
com ment to be made upon their acts
during the term ~ the court You
and each oi you are judges in one
sense OF the word While ! ait ~
judge OF the Law, you gentlemen cit
each aud every one " you, ~ judges Of
the iAcu aud you are the meet I'M.
poTtAnt part oi the court
The State Attorney 10 made hy law
your legal advisor and he will assist
you ~ such times AZ you may desire
hs services IN the examination Of wtt.
nesses, IN explaining Ia you the Law
or the prrtturncy " the evidence. or
any other matter before you and he
W,il hc with you iAll times that you
may wish him, except when you ~ Ia
vote as to whether you will or will not
Hnd y trur bhl $50
Now grand jurors frequently make
some remark uroL The streets 90 "a
speaking IN each othrrS to something
that has occurred IN the gtAnd jIry
Room. sud un,nIrnticnAly l~' cat =
secret " Ihe grand !uty Therefore
the BETTER ard only pau Tor giant
Jurors 10 kvrp Ihr secrets - the grand
jury. uIo transact and hold a. of
Ihrt Conversation, concerning The
grand luty wcrE putr.y ~ the gtsri