The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-29
JUDGE JONES DEFIANT.
Charges Federal Grand Jury to Indie!
Alabama Officials Who Dare to
Show Contempt Of His Court.

In his charge to the United States
grand jury, at Montgomery, Ala, on
Wednesday afternoon, Judge Thomas
C. Jones made it plain that he expect
ed them to indict any state or county
officer who interferes in any way
with the orders of his court with re.
gard TO the state railroad laws which
be SUSPENDED and restrained.
The incident grows out of the threat
on the part CT state solicitors and
sheritfs to make arrests for violations
of the state laws that have been held
up by order Of the United States court,
and indicates that the judge is ready
for any sort of fight the state may
see fit to put up on his court.
The Judge tells the jury that they
are likely to be held in session until
there is a settlement of the cases. or
such a let-up in the proceedings that
they can be safely let go without fear
of discredit to the court. He says:
Recent events will compel the
court to detain you here some time
watching, it may be, for overt acts
of resistance to the process OF the
court which some now threaten in the
near future. The situation here is ab-
normal, so uncalled for, so unwise, so
detrimental to the welfare and peace
Of our. people, that the court feels
compelled by a high sense of duty to
call your attention to it."
9 The law is then cited as to the
right of the federal court to enjoin
acts by the state until such acts are
declared to be legal, and the Revised
Statutes are recited to show that any
who violate the orders of the court
may be imprisoned and not only fined
for contempt, but also indicted and
given long terms in the penitentiay.
All these things the judge tells the
Jury they not only have right 20
apply, but it is their duty to apply
them.
He says all the power Of the flag
and the nation Is behind them to en-
force the orders Of the court, and that
officers of the state will not be al
lowed in any sense to defy the trib-
unal. Among other things, he says:
"Are the lives Of interstate passen-
gers to be endangered by such a state
of things? Are the malls of the coun.
try and interstate commerce to be de-
layed and the flag which stands be-
hind the order Of the court insulted
by such lawless arrests? No one
would respect the American people
if it's government tolerated such con-
ditions on any foot Of American soil
longer than is necessary to bring its
power to bear upon the transgressor."
The jury is charged to inquire OF
every offense brought to its knowledge
of resistance to the process of the
courts or efforts to obstruct or impede
the due administration of justice in
the cases now up.
in statement given to the public
Wednesday afternoon Governor Co
mer announced that if the railroads
Of the state are not obeying the laws
Of the state by October 1st, as is the
case with several lines, he will call
an extra session Of the legislature to
enact such laws as are necessary to
give the state power to enforce its
statutes.
The governor recites that the de-
mands of the state are very moderate
and reasonable, that several lines
have seen them to be so and there
is no reason to stand out against
them longer. He thinks they can De
tested in the courts and given every
show as to legality. He says that
he must enforce the law, that it is
his constitutional duty to do so.