The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-08
GRAND JURY HEARS
FORCIBLE CHARGE
Judge Weaver Deals With Crime
and Its Causes
MIGRANTS TO LEAVE CITY
Special Mention Made of the Crime OF
Carrying Concealed Weapons and
Selling Whisky at Hop
Jack Stands.
TO LEAVE CITY

Judge Weaver took occasion to deal with
many matters and questions which he
considered required attention.
The address was one of eonsidera bic
length and was the subject of much and
very favorable comment by all who heard
it. He said in part:
The grand jury Of the county is that
body which has for its purpose and
object the inquiry as to violation of
the criminal laws of the state in the
just administration OF the law You there-
fore, have duties that are marked and
of the very highest importance to the
welfare of society and in the exercise
Of these duties there is demanded of
you Intelligence. impartiality and the
highest integrity You are to have full
charge OF the institution of prosecutions
Tor the examination of crimes, and in
the exercise of this duty you are not to
consider primarily any defense that NAV
be interposed or set up by the defend
ant, yet you should bear in mind that
the only object of the law Is to insure
peace tranquility and the general well
fare of society; to give adequate protee-
ton to the Individual citizen in his
rights and seek only to punish those
who have clearly infringed upon the
same and in no instance is it to be made
the vehicle to satisfy private malice. or
to wreak personal vengeance upon any
one"
Judge weaver proceeds to caution the
Jurors against allowing any consideration
OF PERSONS position In the community
TO influence their actions and said:
I'VE too often hear the complaint that
the person who steals coop of chickens
is sent to the mines and the person who
steals a million dollars is only guilty of
irregularity. Both are criminals and both
should suffer according to the degree of
their crimes. When this is accomplished
we will find more wholesome respect
for the law, and fewer violations of the
same"
The judge then told the Jurors the ma
ture of their duties, pointing out to them
that they should themselves be governed
by the law in their Investigations. In
speaking upon this subject he said
Among the first class of your duties
you are to examine and make PERSONAL
inspection of the county jail in regard to
the safe keeping of prisoners. their ac-
commodations and health. and to examine
into the manner in which 1t has been kept
Stree 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 officers,
with regard to their sufficiency and cor
rectness and to report upon the same.
ut Is the duty of the sheriff to de-
liver to you the books in which he enters
his account with the state for feeding
prisoners, and to inquire into the condi-
ton of such account since the session of
the preceding grand jury.
ut is the duty of the solicitor and the
grand jury to examine the fee books 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 education.
You are charged with the supervision
of county offices to see that the same
are conducted properly, and in a legal
manner and to make any suggestion as
to any beneficial change therein and If
any corruption or the use of improper or
illegal methods in any of them, should
come to your knowledge it would be your
duty TO adopt such means to rectify the
civil as your own good judgment may
suggest, and in this connection 1t must
not be amiss to call your attention to the
report of DIR. Bragg, president of the
state board of convict inspectors, just
made to Governor W. ID. Jelks. 1t is
startling in the extreme, he says, among
other things, that 1 am more convinced
that the ideas of humanity and cvlliza-
ton would be better carried out If the
torch were applied to every jail in Ala
bama; 1t would be more humane and far
better to stake the prisoner out with Il
ring around their necks like wild animals
than to confine him in places that we
call jails-that are wreaking with filth
and disease. One reading this report
without observing the headlines would
suppose he was reading a report prepared
by Russian official. Now this report
should spur on to the most critical ex-
animation of our county jail. ] am sure
that the picture must be oVerdrawn so
far as it applies to the county Jail of
Jefferson county, and If you should FIND
that In any degree 1t does apply to this
county, | would suggest that you recon-
mend instead of the torch sapolio, I've.
soap, elbow grease and common sense.
There is no necessity for such conditions
to prevail with our present supply of
water the cheapness of soap, and tn
idle hands that could be iudiciously EN-
ployed in giving it a general cleaning up
aud keeping 1t SO.
The Pistol Toter.
''The next class of your duties is the
investigation of crime and the present
ment of all persons who may be shown
by the evidence to be guilty of having
violated the criminal laws. 1t is unneces-
sary for me and / will not attempt to de-
fine or even call your attention to the
various species of crimes you may be
called upon to consider, as the solicitor
will at all proper times be with you and
give YOU the benefit of his advice and as
sstance In such matters and the court
shall always stand ready to give you any
additional instruction as may be desired
by you. fa
II desire to call your attention espe-
cay to the offence of violating the
election laws of the state. The ballot
box is the base on which the super
structure of our institutions are build
ed and it should be kept free from
the COMMUNICATING and blighting effect
of money-or it's Illegal use, to bias or
sway the voter. and he is an enemy to
his country who would attempt to de-
bauch the ballot box by the Illegal use
of money. The law looks on such acts