Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-06
GRAND JURY BEGINS WORK
Jurors Drawn and c. G. George Fore
man for October Term.
JUDGE SEARS READS CHARGE
Tells Jury ~ ~ Does Its Duty Indict-
ments VIII he Against
Many Encouraging Social
EVIL.

y. T. Buchanan. ss2o CHARLES street;
q. w. Hadlookt 1890 north twenty
Lew Hartman, 120e Pacific street.
william Moauigan, asl4 Z street, South
W. Z PAINTER a4scs Dewey avenue, bar
7. Il. Reynolds. FlOrsncsi clerk, water
Ssn Robinson, 4Os north sixteenth
o. p. Thompson.
Q. y. RyIsndsr, Tos North FOrty-first
street; real estate.
.: a. LoyTrsn, ssa North FOrty-firSt
John =: Dillon, ssl4 Henderson street.
8. p. SOstw1ok, 4aos Fsrnsm street; real
v. q. L~indgrsn, 1901 North Eighteen
streets salesman.
These men were chosen Monday after
noon to constitute the grand jury for the
October term of court which began Mon
day. Owing to the absence Of several Of
the panel and the disqualifications Of
others owing to age, ten talesmen were
called by Sheriff Bradley and from these
the last six Of the list were chosen. The
grand jury will begin its sessions Tuesday
morning with Charles c. George Of Dundee
foreman.
In his charge to the jury Judge Sears
treated of the subjects which have been
referred to previous grand juries, the red
light district, houses Of i'll fame in the resi-
dence district. pawn shops, second hand
stores and the general enforcement of law
In the community. In the section relating
to the social evil he did not charge the jury
to indict owners Of property in the red
light district, but advocated indicting
those who operated such houses in the
---E H. a.
his advocacy of a law giving the city the
right to regulate the social evil.
After reading his formal charge Judge
Sears spoke extemporaneously to the jurors
on several subjects touched on only lightly
in the written document.
During the May term of court he said,
IT was struck with the number of bur-
glaries that came under the notice Of the
court. In the examination of one jury fif-
teen men were questioHed and nine Of
them had suffered loss from burglary and
there were thirteen separate burglaries
represented by the nine men. With other
juries the record was almost the same.
Last year there was in the city a large
number Of men practically owning women
and bringing them here from France and
elsewhere. They owned their women as
much as If they had been slaves. Owing to
the vigorous denunciation OF them many
have left town. l am informed that such
crimes as robbery from the person by the
women has become much less frequent.
War on social Evil.
you shoul advise yourselves as to the
presence of these men and find out IL there
is any way of remedying matters. This
class of men are demoralizing to young
men who come in contact with them, more
so than the women they maintain. If you
find any Of them you tSs'Ild indict them,
"For years auction stores for the quilting
of people from out in the state have been
operated in Omaha. It would do no harm
to inquire into them. Second hand stores
and pawn shops have been buying goods
they must have known were stolen, thereby
encouraging men of the class ! have men
toned to commit crime, to rob homes. You
should investigate these institutions.
Il think eventually, we will arrive at the
point where there will be strict enforce
ment of the law"
The formal charge to the jury was as
follows:
sears Written Charge.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury-You hav-
ing been chosen as grand jurymen for
as the presiding Judge Of this branch Of
the court, to Instruct you as to your
powers and duties. The oath you have
taken is one that places you on a higher
and different plane than the one you. oc-
cupied. prior TO its having been taken,
and places you with those who are
charged with the oversight and the we'll
being of the public organization and the
citizenship of the county! and even above
the others so charged with the well-being
and safety, in this. that you are charged
as a duty with inauiring whether or not
the others are performing their duty in
tn eir several capacities.
1t is your duty to Inquire as to the con-
dition of such public places as county
the Condition OF inmates thereon, and
likewise such other places as have in
OF the courts. AS to such places, 1t is
your duty, after advising yourselves Of
conditions, to report TO the court as to
maintained and provided rules enforced.
You will at all times keep in mind the
oaths taken by yourselves seVerally and
your foreman, and It is the duty of the
court at this time to admonish you that
you are to keep as sacredly secret the
fellow members, unles you are called on
in a court of justice to make disclosures
and, likewise, 1t is your duty to main
considered with a view OF possible in
dictment following and what progress Is
being made in such inquiries.
The county attorney or his deputies are
privileged { oappeaH before you at all
ton REGARDING any matter cognizabie be-
fore you, giving advice upon any subject
you may require, and, II either he or you
desire, he shall interrogate witnesses be-
fore you; no pther person shall be In
your room while you are expressing your
views or while giving your votes upon
any matter. The clerk of the court will
at the request of the grand jury or OF the
county attorney cause subpOenas TO Is
sue for such witnesses as may be desired
No one is to announce the fact of an in
dictment having been found until the In
dictment is filed and the case docketed.
AS / nave brought 10 the attention OF
two previous grand juries during IN
present year, there is not that observance
of law that should obtain In law-abidinG
communities. Not that the people OF THU
county are worse than other communities
of like population, but there has grown Ut
an idea that there may be statute laws
and that officers whose sole and only
duty il is to be the law-enforcing arm
may In their discretion enforce them OF
not. There is no such discretion. Every
such cOuntenancing is an ignoring OF law
and its defiance. Eventually II must
cease. There is nc weight of duty on. Of
ficials charged TO enforce the law, II az
once they claim such discretion. In thtf
community, 1 am advised, both in Omahs
and South Omaha. there are places where
intoxicating liquor is sold, without IL
cense, daily-a great many such places,
/ am referring to houses OF prostitution.
It 10 your duty TO indict all such persons
so selling such liquors.
Many Break Liquor Laws.