Bradford County telegraph., 1906-06-22

/ JUDGE WILLS Chan
Ss~s>~sss~~@%>s.>>..>...ss,
Because Of the sugsestions that an
applicable 10 grand juries under all cir
cumstanoes the Telegraph reproduce.
the charge Of Judge James T. Wills Il
the grand jury 1t the special term oi
court held In Alachus county. The
charge il ~ follows:
Gentlemen you have been selected
sworn and impaneled e grand iurorr
for the present term Of this court. This
is q special term Of court, called by
myself a. your presiding Judge, because
Of representation of certain matters
made to me. In my opinion, the public
welfare and the cause Of Justice in
Alachua county required Of me that a
special term Of this court be held; and,
by virtue Of the authority vested in me
under the law, whenever, in my opinion,
IN extra, or special term Of the court
was necessary, IL became my duty tc
call such term; and in pursuance Of
that power I have called this special
term Of your court.
During the last session Of this court,
which has just ended, there were
rumOrs upon your streets Of attempts to
corruptly influence the grand jury then
in session by parties upon the outside.
These rnmors grew from day to day,
until they were common talk upon
your streets; they reached the
ears Of the officers Of this court, and
were brought TO my attention by
parties who claimed that they were in q
position to give evidence, IL they
could give that evidence frankly and
freely, to grand jury-of attempts
that had been made TO influence the
grand jury in their deliberations upon a
certain cause, or causes then pending
before that body. When these facts,
coming from the sources which
they did, came to my knowledge, then
felt charged with the responsibility of
presiding over this circuit that embraces
over seventy thousand people within its
limits, and I, a. the presiding Judge
charged with the responsibility Of en-
forcing the law and order throughout
the circnit, that an attempt was made,
not only that reflected upon Alachua
carried out and allowed to prevail in
the counties Of this state. would make
the administration Of the law q farce
and travesty upon justice.
And 1t is for this purpose that have
called this special term Of the court
not for the purpose Of having this grand
jury 20 review the actions, or to act as
IN Appellate Court over the last grand
jury-but to investigate the facts as to
whether there was any attempt to cor
ruptly influence the last grand jury.
1t Is q duty that you owe to the last
grand jury to fearlessly and impartially
investigate this matter, AZ to whether
any attempt was made to influence
them, and whether any member Of
their body was influenced or not.
Because Of these rumors-if they be
not true-that grand jury should be
vindicated from the charge, and the
county of Alachua should be vindicated
from the charge that any such dastardly
attempt was made; and the courts OF
justice should be vindicated I'm order that
the people Of this county and in this
state may have full confidence in the
integrity, power and ability Of the
courts to enforce the law fearlessly and
impartially, and irrespective OF any
attempted oorrupting in1uence.
Aud, ON the other hand, II these
rumors be true; II In fact, there were
any such attempts TO manacle the hands
OF justice, then you owe It to your
county, to your state and to your
courts, and to the oath that you have
taken, irrespective Of party, or parties,
that may be implicated In Il, to observe
the oath that you have taken, and
fearlessly, fairly and impartially in
vestigate it, and invite al or any evil
dence that may be brought TO your
attention ON such violation.
; IL is most important matter In my
estimation. II such practices have pre-.
vailed and are not stopped by prompt
action Of the court, then the courts are
useless, and law and order are . thing OF
the past.
You have here county In Its mate
rial resOurces and In the variety OF
these resources that q unsurpassed by
any county In the state Of Florida.
Your city h . city which stands high
in the estization of the people Of this
state, and Gainesville u noted for the
high moral puhlic sentimant that pre-
wallis there. YOu have . progressive
Pizit among yoar people for the build
Ing q good roads and the general
advanospent Of your oounty and the
cAnse of eduoe4aon; but you may
accomplish I'll Of these ends, and carry
them % the highest degrss Of psrfection,
but without the enforcement OF law
and order In your county, Alachua
county, with AL OF her natural re-
souroSG, with I'll Of her progressive
spirit, In I'll that tends to advance the
true and good. win b failure, because
without the enforcement Of the law aud
order In . county. life and property are
insecure and unsafe. and no man h
proteoted.
Iherefore, feeling that the public
welfare Of this county was involved In
this charge. ! called you - citizens Of
yonr county, ~ the grand jury, with
unlimited power to send Tor witnesses,
aud to mako . full ard thorough in
vestigation of tNese charges that have
been made. and tsis b the speciA pur.
pose for which you ayo assembled, and
10 which ! call var most carefsl study
md attention.
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