The Ketchikan miner., 1907-10-19


 law itself is s''~' T. Id.
 These renlsi'.s : .e court are not aimed at ang it,' crime or class of crimes T. ;a saSing them the court has in .l | entire field of the criminai .,,3 operative in the district of A,,sl1.
 It is, theretol our duty as grand jury for the ii,.i aiyision of the district of Alaska, and you have the power, to inquire into all crimes committed or triable within the jurisdiction of this court, and to return to this court such matters as you deem proper, either by presentment or indictment. Inas- much as another grand jury has been ordered to convene two months hence, at Juneau, it may be as well, although you are not obliged to do so, to conline your investigations to those crimes and violations of law occurring in the southeastern part of this division.
 In your sessions as grand jury, no business can be transacted if less than sixteen of your number is present, for sixteen members. under the statute, constitutes q quorum. Before you can find m indictment al least twelve cf your number must concuf, and when so found, it must be endorsed "A true bill," and such endorsement must be l ..;,.po1 hx, ..o,, fopap,,,
 The foreman is appoined by the court. He @..s- ,'S;,a presiding officer. and he has the authority and must ad- minister the oath to all witnesses who tetify before you. You should elect one of your number to act as clerk for the grand jury, and in making that choice, the court suggests that it is desirable that the clerk be ready penman, since it is his duty to keep q record of your proceedings. In any matter which you may investigate and in which you may return an indict- ment Mot true bill," the minute s of the clerk should be destroyed.
 The United States Attorney is your legal advisor. It is his duty to attend upon your body when you are not de- liberating or voting upon a matter be- fore you, for the purpose of advising you as to your duties, or to examine witnesses. It is also his duty to pre- pare all indictments and presentments | l, ;,l, l,o f< ho
 But when you are deliberating or voting upon any matter, no person other than the members of your body is to be permitted to be present. At this point it may be we'll to call to your attention the great necessity fol secrecy as to all transactions in the grand jury room, as we'll during the time you in are session as after you have finally reported and have been discharged. A juror who discloses anything that may transpire within the four walls of the jury room, is guilty of violation of his oath, and is liable to punishment for contempt of court. There is but one occasion on which juror may disclose trans action in the jury room, and that is when he is required to do so in open court, and upon the order of the court for certain purposes specified in the statute. No one has a right to know what occurs during your sittings, and you gentlemen will bear in mind the duty to which I have called your at tention.
 Should anyone of you have know | ledge of the commission of a crime, it is your duty to make the fact known to the grand jury: but no indictment can be found on the statement of a grand juror unless he is sworn and testifes in the same manner as an, other witness.
 In all cases where persons have been held to answer to criminal charge before you, it is the duty of the Dis trict Attorney to submit to you an in- dictment and to present for your con- sideration such evidence in support thereof as be may have. You are not bound, under the law, to hear the evidence of the accused; but, should you believe that additional testimony. whether-it be that of the accused or some other person, would be of such a character as to clear away the charge, the court instructs you that you may permit the accused to testify, and you should require the production of such additional testimony. A mans repu- tation means much to him, and while an indictment in the eye of the law casts no shadow upon it, in the eye oi the talkative public, an indictment will blacken his good name. For that reason, the court charges you that in- dictments should not be returned upon slight evidence, but only where the proof which you have before you would, if uncontradicted or unexplain- ed, warrant you as trial jurors in re- turning verdict of. guilty"
 You have other powers and duties as grand jury which are to be found enumerated in Chapters five and six of the Alaska Code of Criminal Pro-