The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-11-09
DISTRICT COURT
JUDGE RUSSELL IN HIS CHARGE
TO THE GRAND JURY SPEAKS
FoRcl5LY OF PISTOL ToTER

guage that should have the endorse
ment OF every citizen who regards the
best welfare of the town. and the sec.
tion. He began by stating that IL was
the duty OF three commissioners to
select from the voting list mtn Tor
the grand jury who would do their
duty and he felt obligcI to state that.
from his knowledge OF the men be.
fore hm. the commissions had per.
formed their duty discrcetly. Tie fully
believed that the present grand jury
was composed Of men who would do
their duty faithfully and truly n has
bocn said that, as matters stand un.
der our state constitution. SO seems
suporiluous to have grand jury. but
Il has been thought mOll TO summons
one at this term Of court AMI. iu.
ded II seems best that one should be-
called. The powers OF grand jury
are very great Anyone summoned
before Il must attend. and any inv sti.
cation ordered must Doe carried out.
AMI indeed. 1t seems that at this
time a grand jury should D. summon
cd. n ever for a regular satuualia of
crime seems TO be IN progress. calling
for such an awakening OF the public
conscience as shall bring 60 To a close.
Since the last term Of court six or
eight men have committed the crime
of homicide. | know nothing of the
merits of these cases. said Judge Rus.
sell. but it is as much the duty Of the
court to investigate each case as II Is
to carry out the law. II is the dnty
Of the grand jury to look into these
matters. II is a terrible thing to 60
forth to the public that a man can
be shot down upon the STIR cts of Ard.
more without pr! er investigation.
Last February spoke Of the pistol
toter, and stated that four fifths OF
the crimes before the courts were
committed by the man who carries a
pistol. The keepers of the gambling
dives are bad enough, that one man
SHOULD lead another to play that he
may rob him of his money Is an evil
| thing. but these are not the worst
crimes. The pistol toter puts his pis-
| tol in his pocket when he leaves home,
| intending, he says, TO use II for his
| protection. but, when his anger Is ar.
oused by real or fancied injury from
another man, out comes the pistol ami
murder is done. The dead tell no
tales. In court 1t is always the dead
man who drew first. and the living
man who only fired In self defense
Who shall say what is the truth? In
my opinion, carrying a concealed pis
tol should be made a felony. heavily
punished, and under the present law
the fine should be the heaviest that
can be imposed. But the truth is II
is the public who are to blame. II a
few disreputable desperadoes are tc
be allowed To carry matters with the
high hand, and the good citizens oi
the community sit silent what will he
the result? We have no shadow OF
doubt that the most OF our citizens
are law abiding. anxious 10 do thoii
duty, but there is lack union
among them Every man accused o
crime should have his case investi
gated and II guilty he should be con
victed, or II innocent. acquitted: but
IL the crime Is condoned By the Jury
he goes out see TO carry his career OF
crime further. The grand jury has Il
in their power 10 so alarm evil mer
as to frighten them from their crimes
The grand jury should be feared but
trusted. the sheriff feared, but truste d
the county attorney feared yet trusted
a judge respected, but trusted 4
crime has been committed and human
life taken. The pity Is that we do no
think how sacred thing human lif'
Is. The mere pretext upon which II E
destroyed do not appal us as the!
should. Self defense has been made
a plea until Il has been made into q
bulwark that will shelter more mel
than the Gibraltar ever defended. Tn,
duty OF grand jury is TO be don'
without fear or favor OF any man, ye
without prejudice against any Theii
oath to that effect is a most solemn
one. You are not responsible II mel
commit these crimes. Yours only 4
, investigate and discover the rea
truth in regard 10 them. Yours Il
the responsibility II they escape th'
: consequences OF their misdee DIS. Ou
system OF government is so interwoy
en- with the rights of men accuse
that IL is impossible. virtually, for al
= innocent man 10 be condemned Th